Game Story; George Mason 81, JMU 74

Saturday, February 23

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James Madison University

13-13, 6-11

George Mason

18-8,12-5

GEORGE MASON

JAMES MADISON

2/23/2002 12:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. (2/23/2002) – Jesse Young had 13 of his team-high 22 points during the first half as George Mason built a 17-point lead, and the visiting Patriots went on to defeat JMU 81-74.

Young hit on six of eight shots during the opening half and had six points during a 26-9 George Mason scoring burst to close the half. JMU had rallied from a 15-5 deficit for a 20-20 tie before the 26-9 Patriot burst during the final 7:51 of the first period gave them a 46-29 lead at halftime. JMU got as close as seven points on three occasions during the final half but never was closer.

George Mason had five three-point field goals during its 26-9 run to close the first half. Rauol Heinen's layup with 7:51 left in the half gave the Patriots a 22-20 advantage, and Lamar Butler hit on three three-pointers and Terrance Nixon on two during the remainder of the half. George Mason scored 11 straight points to lead 36-22 with 4:39 left during the period after leading 25-22 at the 7:06 mark.

George Mason hit on 18 of 29 first-half shots, including eight of 15 three-point attempts.

An 8-1 JMU scoring run got Dukes to within 62-55 with 5:38 left in the game, and they were within 64-57 with 4:29 remaining before a Young layup and two Butler free throws gave George Mason a 68-57 edge with 3:13 left. The Patriots then led by 13 three times before being outscored 9-3 during the last 30 seconds.

Young hit on nine of 14 shots and had five rebounds. Butler had 19 points and Jon Larranaga 17 points, five rebounds and a career-high-tying six assists for George Mason. Larranaga hit on 10 straight free throws and on three of four field goal attempts. Butler had five three-pointers and hit on four straight free throws.

David Fanning led JMU with 24 points. Kenny Whitehead added 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench and Dwayne Broyles 14 points. Whitehead hit on seven of nine shots.

George Mason shot 50.0 percent (24-48), only the fourth JMU opponent to shoot that well during the season. The Patriots hit on 10 of 21 three-point attempts.

JMU shot 40.0 percent (28-70) and had a 37-31 rebounding advantage.