Pregame: Hard to top game one but UMass has played the Patriots tough this season. I’m also wondering if Mason’s band will match VCU’s for in-game entertainment.
George Mason starts with a Justin Kier layup, UMass answers with a Carl Pierre three. Lets hope this stays a punch for punch game.
UMass showing no ill-effects from last night’s game. Yes… Yes… usually fatigue shows up in the second half. Just have to give the obligatory first few minutes evaluation.
Media Timeout (15:59) UMass 8 George Mason 6
Minutemen have more pep in their step. Twelve shot attempts to Mason’s six. Five offensive rebounds have helped that number.
Coach Paulsen could use a good set play to get a real good look. They got it on a backdoor cut by Ian Boyd. Unfortunately Boyd bricked the layup. A six point run by UMass pushes the lead to eight.
Sidenote: Some Dayton fans have stuck around and they look super salty.
Media Timeout (12:30) UMass 16 George Mason 8
Pipkins is 4-4, including 3-3 from 3. Mason looks as lethargic as a team could look right now. They aren’t even getting out on Pipkens. Heck, they aren’t getting out on anyone. They are staying stuck to the screener. Another three and UMass is up 12. Didn’t see this coming. Now it’s 14 after a rim run by Randall West.
Mason is continuously getting beat on the first dribble by anyone penetrating.
Media Timeout (8:00) UMass 28 George Mason 14
Malik Hines gets a tech after being called for a travel. Otis Livingston II made both free throws. Patriots didn’t get a single bit of momentum from that mistake. How does a team shoot 71% and be down double digits? I don’t know but Mason is definitely pulling that off.
Goanar Mar’s three pointer HAD cut it to a single digit lead but UMass’ Pipkens comes down and hits another three.
Pipkins slips and falls, probably his only mistake so far, and Mar gets a breakaway layup with the foul (awaiting the free throw).
Media Timeout (3:41) UMass 35 George Mason 27
Mar makes the free throw and Mason is within seven. Gotta close the half strong. That means not being down double digits at halftime.
Mar capitalizes off another UMass turnover and GMU is within 5. His 10 points leads Mason.
Timeout UMass (1:29): UMass 39 George Mason 34
Out of the timeout, UMass commits another turnover and Mason capitalizes with a Javon Greene three pointer. two point game!
Mason ends the half on a 9-0 run and we’re tied!
Halftime: UMass 39 George Mason 39
Mason opens out the half with four opportunities to take the lead and fail on all four.
Ouch. Livingston II picks up his third with 17:30 left. Score tied at 41. UMass on a 5-0 run. It’s the Pipkins show once again.
Media Timeout (15:41) UMass 46 George Mason 41
AJ Wilson is playing big for Mason. All on the offensive boards but the Patriots have let Pipkins heat up again. Truth be told, it’s going to have to be a “stops” game for GMU.
This half has seen UMass regain control of the game at a slower pace. Mason needs much better ball movement than we’ve seen since the half started.
And as I say this Mason goes on a 6-0 run and closes the lead to 1.
Media Timeout (10:38) UMass 54 George Mason 53
At the 10:15 mark, George Mason took the lead back for a brief moment but BJ Anderson is personally fighting the Patriots off. He’s on a personal 5-0 run putting UMass back up by 4.
Man, Mason has jumped back in front by one at the 8:02 mark on two Livingston II free throws. Neither team can get that game deciding spurt yet.
Media Timeout (7:33) UMass 61 George Mason 60
Wilson ties it for Mason. Anderson “unties” it for UMass.
Mason can’t let UMass’ best player (Pipkins) beat them down the stretch… they are letting him beat them.
On the other side, UMass can’t let Livingston II beat them.
UMass Timeout (4:01) UMass 71 George Mason 71
What’s for dinner tonight in the Media Room? Personally, I’m hoping for bbq, mac and cheese, greens etc. It probably won’t be close to that.
… Back to the game.
Pipkins back in after a rest of .00000003 seconds rest.
And here’s are Media Timeout at 3:40. Game still tied at 71 a piece.
Media Timeout (3:40) UMass 71 George Mason 71.
Greg Calixte fouls out on a soft call. Two free throws later we’re back to being tied (73).
Did UMass blink first? We’ll find out in these last 79 seconds. Mason up by two. Minutemen ball.
Refs missed the walk… two of them and then they call that????? Wow… 50.7 seconds left, UMass has a chance to tie from the free throw line.
And we get the “ball don’t lie” two missed free throws.
Timeout UMass. 22.8 seconds left. Mason up 76-73. You know this is going to Pipkins. I mean… this isn’t rocket science.
Hines gets a tip in cutting it to one but UMass inexplicably lets two seconds run off the clock before fouling. Mar at the free throw line with 4.1 seconds left. Mar makes both free throws.
Oh my… they call a shove on Pipkins with 1.4 seconds left effectively ending this.
George Mason survives.
Final: George Mason 80 UMass 75
