Boston College at Virginia
When » Saturday, noon
Where » John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville
TV/Radio » RSN/570 AM
Virginia (14-13, 5-8) has won two straight behind a suffocating defense that has limited its last three foes to no more than 56 points. Slumping Boston College (16-11, 6-7) is on the NCAA bubble and needs this one to have a chance to finish with a winning record in the ACC regular season. BC won the first game 70-67 as Reggie Jackson (18.2 ppg) hit a late 3-pointer and added four free throws in the closing seconds.
Temple at GW
When » Saturday, 2 p.m.
Where » Smith Center, Washington
TV/Radio » CBS College Sports/1500, 820 AM
After three straight wins, GW (15-12, 8-5) has an outside chance to catch fourth-place Duquesne (17-9, 9-4) for fourth-place in the Atlantic 10 and a first-round bye in the conference tournament. No. 21 Temple (21-6, 11-2) is closing in on an NCAA at-large berth, challenging Xavier (21-6, 12-1) for the regular-season title. The Owls are propelled by 6-4 junior Ramone Moore (15.1 ppg), 6-6 junior Scootie Randall (11.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg), and 6-9 senior Lavoy Allen (10.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg).
AU at Lafayette
When » Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where » Kirby Arena, Easton, Pa.
TV » RSN
AU (20-8, 10-3) will play the first two rounds of the Patriot League tournament at home, provided its advances. The Eagles won the first meeting with Lafayette behind Stephen Lumpkins (21 points). Lafayette (11-17, 6-7) is in a three-way tie for third place in the Patriot League with Lehigh (15-13, 6-7) and Holy Cross (15-13, 6-7), in its bid for a home game in the first round of the conference tournament on Wednesday. AU will play Colgate (7-21, 4-9) in the first round. The Eagles swept the Raiders in the regular season, with both games decided by nine points.
Colgate at Navy
When » Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where » Alumni Hall, Annapolis
On Senior Day, Navy (10-19, 5-8) will honor O.J. Avworo, Mark Veazey, Greg Brown, and Romeo Garcia. The Midshipmen are a game in front of Colgate (7-21, 4-9) in the Patriot League standings, but there is little at stake as the Raiders can do no better than the No. 7 seed in the Patriot League tournament, where they will face AU. Navy won the first meeting, 81-78, in overtime behind Jordan Sugars (22 points) and Greg Brown (20 points). The Mids can do no better than fifth place in the Patriot League, which means they must travel in the opening round, facing either Lehigh (15-13, 6-7), Lafayette (11-17, 6-7), or Holy Cross (7-20, 6-7).
Howard at UMES
When » Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where » Hytche Center, Princess Anne
In the battle for the cellar in the MEAC, Howard (6-21, 4-10) looks to complete a sweep of Maryland-Eastern Shore (6-21, 3-11). The Bison won the first meeting in D.C. as Kyle Riley scored 22 points as Howard ended a nine-game losing streak. Junior G Hillary Haley (Friendly), the top scorer (16.7 ppg) for the Hawks, had 29 points in the first meeting. The MEAC tournament begins Tuesday, Mar. 8 in Winston-Salem, N.C., with the top five finishers in the regular season earning byes.
George Mason at Georgia State
When » Saturday, 6 p.m.
Where » GSU Sports Arena, Atlanta
Riding a nation’s best 14-game winning streak, George Mason (24-5, 15-2) has clinched the top seed in next week’s CAA tournament. Georgia State (11-17, 6-7) returns home after three straight road defeats. Currently in ninth-place in the conference, the Panthers could be headed for a quarterfinal re-match with Mason in the CAA tournament. Mason will play the winner of the first-round game between the ninth-place team and the eighth-place team – currently UNCW (13-16, 7-10). Georgia State rotates 11 players who average at least 10 minutes per game. Eric Buckner, a 6-10 junior, is the top scorer (9.6 ppg) and rebounder (5.7 rpg). Georgia State’s last winning season came in 2003-04 when it was in the Atlantic Sun Conference (2003-04). When the teams met last month in Fairfax, Mason pulled away in the second half for a 66-51 victory behind Cam Long (18 points). Georgia State has won the last two meetings in Atlanta, including last year, 61-57, a loss that started Mason on a 2-8 finish, after it had opened 10-1 in CAA play.
