Projectile from stands reverses momentum as Mason subdues rival
HARRISONBURG, Va. — With an assist average of 1.6 per game, George Mason sophomore Andre Cornelius is a shoot-first point guard.
But that suited George Mason just fine Saturday at rival James Madison as Cornelius matched his career-high (19 points) propelling the Patriots to an 82-71 victory before 5,424 at the JMU Convocation Center.
After Cornelius started both halves with shooting sprees, his backcourt mate, Cameron Long (24 points), who also matched his career high, took over down the stretch, scoring 11 points in the final 5 minutes, 13 seconds as Mason (11-7, 6-1) remained tied for first place in the crowded-at-the-top Colonial Athletic Association.
Long (6 of 9) and Cornelius (7 of 9) led the offense as Mason shot 53 percent from the floor. The Patriots have had trouble getting consistent scoring from its mismatched backcourt. After playing the 6-4 Long at the point and 5-10 Cornelius at the wing, Mason coach Jim Larranaga has switched their positions, finding it difficult to find a playmaking guard.
“All of our guards are shoot first, shoot second and shoot third,” quipped Larranaga.
Mason led all the way Saturday, getting a strong defense from 6-9 sophomore Mike Morrison (9 points, 4 assists), who held CAA scoring leader Denzel Bowles to 15 points, eight fewer than his average, and five rebounds, half his average.
“Mike’s job was to try to limit Bowles’s touches. He’s such a force offensively,” said Larranaga. “It’s pretty unusual for a guy his size to have a terrific low-post game and then be able to go out on the perimeter, actually put the ball on the floor, and make one-on-one moves. He’s a pretty impressive player.”
Morrison didn’t give Bowles much room to operate, establishing his presence on Madison’s first trip down the floor as he forced a turnover from Bowles then talked to him all the way down the opposite end. Morrison frustrated the 6-10 junior, who after committing three early fouls, lost his aggressiveness as well as some playing time.
“He was talking the whole game. It doesn’t effect me at all,” said Bowles. “They were denying me the ball. They wouldn’t give an angle to that guard passing me the ball.”
Madison (8-9, 2-5) never led, but made a strong run late, reducing a 15-points deficit to four. But with Bowles at the foul line with a chance to cut the lead further, a hot dog flew out of the stands and landed a few feet away as Bowles missed his first free throw.
During a long discussion between the officials and coaches, the fan who threw the projectile was removed. Madison was charged with a technical foul and Bowles was not awarded a do-over.
Long went to the other end and made a pair of free throws, before Bowles hit his second charity toss, making it 68-63.
Madison whittled the lead further. A jumper by Bowles made it 70-67 with 3:18 to go, but Long answered with a jumper and junior Isaiah Tate (8 points, 4 assists) followed with a 3-pointer that put Mason back in command, 75-67.
“We thought that we were going to get over the hump,” said senior guard Pierre Curtis (13 points, 7 assists). “Then somebody threw a hot dog on the floor. We were gonna get two free throws, instead they got two free throws.”
The long delay might have disrupted the onrushing Dukes.
“It’s silly. It’s unexplainable. I don’t know why anybody would have thrown it,” said JMU coach Matt Brady. “I don’t think it was the key call of the game. I still don’t understand the call. But it is what it is.”
Curtis and sophomore guard Julius Wells (21 points) played all 40 minutes for a depleted JMU squad that used only seven players. Standout guard Devon Moore (knee) is out for the season. Senior forward Daz Thornton has been declared academically ineligible. Mason countered with 10 players and appeared fresher at the end.
“I think depth is a problem over the long haul,” said Larranaga. “I don’t really think that’s an issue right now. If you’re interested in resting Bowles and Wells, mostly you’re doing us a favor.”
Mason rolled to a 15-2 lead in the opening five minutes as Cornelius hit a pair of 3-pointers and Long added another. But Madison rushed back with an 11-2 rally. In a four-minute span, the Dukes forced four turnovers and scored on five straight possessions. Curtis started and finished the spurt with baskets from the lane and freshman reserve Alioune Diouf added a 3-pointer.
The second half began the same way. Cornelius hit a jumper and a 3-pointer as Mason streaked to its biggest lead, 54-39, answering the catcalls of the spirited Harrisonburg crowd.
“The atmosphere in the Convocation center today is what college basketball is all about,” said Larranaga. “The enthusiasm was tremendous. The place was packed and rockin’ right from the beginning. I thought our guys came right out of the blocks fast and played very hard at the defensive end and very well at the offensive end.”
Notes » Mason has won 12 of the last 13 meetings, but still trails Madison in the all-time series 49-38 … Mason plays at Hofstra on Tuesday and at Towson on Saturday … Sophomore forward Ryan Pearson was solid Saturday with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and four assists.
