George Mason’s performance at the Sunshine Slam was as dominant as it comes. The Patriots are off to a 7-0 start, the best in school history.
After racing past Ohio, 92-69, the Patriots led by as much as 19 in the 74-65 win over Florida Atlantic in the Sunshine Slam final.
Kory Mincy finished with 22 points and five assists. Jahari Long chipped in 21 points.
Florida Atlantic did make it interesting with a 12-0 run that got them within seven points with six minutes left. With 2:39 left, the Owls’ Devin Vanterpool (17 points and nine rebounds) hit a layup that closed Mason’s lead to 66-61, prompting head coach Tony Skinn to call a timeout.
Up three with 39 seconds left, Mason would close the game with a Long layup and free throws by Mincy and Masai Troutman.
Takeaways from Both Games:
Mincy has been everything George Mason has wanted on offense. He’s proving to be a versatile scorer. In the two games, Mincy averaged 22 points per game on 13-24 (54.1%) shooting from the floor and 9-16 (56.2%) from three.
Mincy and veteran Jahari Long made the most crucial baskets when it seemed things were falling apart. The pair scored 14 of Mason’s last 16 points. Long’s five-point run helped hold the Owls at arm’s length down the stretch.
Skinn dials some great things up, but it’s hard to stay executing on a high level when you’re not getting stops on the defensive end. During Florida Atlantic’s second-half run, the Patriots went over five minutes without a field goal as the Owls got everything from threes to layups. If that wasn’t bad enough, a couple of Owls baskets came on second chances.
It’s November. Teams are supposed to be getting the next level of continuity this time of year, so, at times, players can get loose with the ball. Not George Mason. The Patriots combined for 13 turnovers in the two games in Daytona. It doesn’t matter what the team’s style of play is, in today’s basketball, the turnover number being that low is a reflection of both the players and the coaching staff.
