By Steven Goff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 21, 2007; E11
Time and again during George Mason's fifth consecutive victory, a 78-53 demolition of Northeastern yesterday before 6,928 at Patriot Center, three simple scenarios unfolded when Will Thomas got the ball.
He would flip in a left-handed hook. He would drop-step to the basket for a power layup. Or, on those occasions when he was double-teamed, he would toss the ball to an open teammate for a three-pointer.
All three options were equally effective, and as a result, the Patriots (11-7, 5-3 Colonial Athletic Association) turned a close game at halftime into another rout by the midway point of the second half.
Thomas scored 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting, tying him for the third-best performance in program history, as Mason continued its two-week ascension of the league standings entering Wednesday's home showdown with Virginia Commonwealth (16-3, 8-0).
"Right now," guard John Vaughan said, "everything is just clicking for the whole team."
Especially for Thomas, who has made 30 of 38 shots the past four games to raise his season percentage to 65.4 percent. The Huskies (5-14, 3-5) primarily tried to defend Thomas one-on-one, a tactic that neither contained him nor prevented Mason's outside shooters from getting open.
"It's good not seeing double teams and triple teams," Thomas said. "One-on-one is great for any post player."
Thomas did not miss until more than 25 minutes had passed, then scored on three consecutive possessions as the Patriots won by at least 21 points for the fourth time during their streak.
"He has great patience with the ball, and he's just so strong around the basket," Huskies Coach Bill Coen said. "He does a terrific job of getting his other teammates involved. If you do double-team him, they rotate the ball very well out of it and very often you give up an open three."
Vaughan made four three-pointers for the third straight game, Dre Smith hit two to increase his total to 10 in his last four outings, and after making around 30 percent of their three-point attempts most of the season, the Patriots converted 7 of 15 to improve their accuracy to 38 of 81 (47 percent) the last four games.
With a renewed outside threat and opponents wary of collapsing inside, Thomas has found himself one-on-one in the low post.
"He just knows how to play this game so simply," Patriots Coach Jim Larranaga said. "He has a clear picture of attacking the rim -- if the defense plays one side, it opens up the other side. He's as good as I've ever coached at that."
The Huskies -- 0-11 in away games and 0-2 at a neutral site -- were within 36-30 at the half thanks to Adrian Martinez's five three-pointers. After the break, however, he was able to take only one shot against the Patriots, who have allowed an average of 49 points during their winning streak and have not given up 70 since the second game of the season.
With Martinez in check, the Patriots made their first five shots of the second half, including three-pointers by Jordan Carter and Vaughan, and continued to get the ball to Thomas.
"If teams plays him one-on-one," Vaughan said, "it's an automatic bucket."
Patriots Note: Chris Fleming, who missed Tuesday's game at William & Mary because of a sprained ankle after making three starts, played 14 minutes as a reserve and contributed four points and three rebounds.
· HOLY CROSS 69, AMERICAN 64: The visiting Crusaders shot 9 of 10 from the free throw line in overtime to win their seventh straight game and stay undefeated in the Patriot League.
Pat Doherty's layup gave Holy Cross a 64-62 lead late in overtime, and Tim Clifford extended it to three points on a free throw with 24 seconds left.
Arvydas Eitutavicius drove the baseline to put the Eagles within one, but Keith Simmons made four free throws in a row to seal the win for the Crusaders, who are off to their best start in league play since the 2002-03 season.
Clifford led Holy Cross (14-6, 5-0) with 19 points and nine rebounds. Eitutavicius had a season-high 24 for American (9-10, 1-4).
· HOWARD 63, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 60: Darek Mitchell scored 16 points and Darryl Hudson had nine points and 12 rebounds to lead the Bison at Burr Gymnasium.
Will Gant scored 12 points and Jason Trotter added 10 as Howard improved to 7-11, 3-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Jimmy Hudson scored 18 points to pace the Wildcats (3-13, 1-6).
