GEORGE MASON DOWNS JMU 82-71 IN CAA ACTION

Saturday, January 16

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2:00 p.m.

James Madison University

8-9, 2-5

George Mason

11-7, 6-1

George Mason

James Madison

1/16/2010 10:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., Jan. 16, 2010 – Guards Cam Long and Andre Cornelius each matched career highs with 24 and 19 points, respectively, as George Mason defeated James Madison 82-71 in a Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball contest Saturday afternoon at the JMU Convocation Center.

GMU improved to 11-7 overall and 6-1 in the CAA while JMU dropped to 8-9 overall and 2-5 in the league.

Cornelius hit on each of his first six field-goal attempts and two free throws until his first miss with 12 minutes left in the second half. He finished with 19 points while making seven of his nine field-goal attempts. Long shot 6-for-9 from the floor and 10-for-12 on free throws for his 24 points. Ryan Pearson added 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists for the Patriots.

Sophomore Julius Wells (Toledo, Ohio/Libbey) had 21 points to lead the JMU effort. Junior Denzel Bowles (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) added 15 points and five rebounds. Senior Pierre Curtis (Denver, Colo./East) contributed 13 points and seven assists, becoming the second player in JMU history to surpass 400 career assists (401). Freshman Alioune Diouf (Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern) had his best effort of the season with nine points and six rebounds.

George Mason used quick starts to build double-digit margins in the opening minutes of each half. The Patriots hit on each of their first three attempts from the three-point line and five of six shots overall to open the game on a 15-2 run in the first 4:41.

After JMU closed to within five at the break at 36-31, GMU again started strong with a 13-4 run in the second period to go up 49-35 with 16 minutes remaining. The Patriots maintained the double-digit advantage until nine minutes left when the Dukes began to crawl back.

Madison pulled to within 66-62 with 6:02 left and 70-67 with 3:27 left after a Bowles jumper. However, the Patriots responded with a 7-0 burst to essentially seal the victory thanks to a jumper by Long, a three by Isaiah Tate, and a pair of free throws by Long. The Patriots held