The magic didn’t last for Dre Smith. It didn’t need to.
George Mason used a combined 30 first-half points from Folarin Campbell and John Vaughan to run away from Old Dominion, 86-53, in front of 5,808 at Patriot Center.
Smith, coming off a NCAA-record setting 10-for-10 three-point shooting performance last weekend at James Madison, missed his first five shots (four 3-point attempts and a blocked layup) and finished with five points.
But the Patriots (14-5, 6-2 Colonial Athletic Association) didn’t need his offense, thanks to an efficient 57.6 first-half shooting percentage (19 of 33) and season-low five turnovers. Campbell, who matched his season-high with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists, hit his first three shots from behind the arc, scoring 17 first-half points. Vaughan (17 points, three assists) also chipped in 13 before the break, as George Mason took a 46 23 halftime lead.
The Patriots took control early with a 13-3 run to go up, 19-9, midway through the first half, a stretch that included Will Thomas (14 points, 12 rebounds) at the top of the key feeding Vaughan in the low post for a bucket followed by Vaughan doing the same for Thomas on the very next possession.
Jonathan Adams nailed a three-pointer to pull the Monarchs (9-11, 4-4) to within six at 19-13. But beginning with consecutive threes by Campbell and Vaughan, George Mason scored the game’s next 17 points.
