Patriots Bank on Defense

Effort Compensates for So-So Shooting, Turnovers: George Mason 59, James Madison 41

HARRISONBURG, Va., Jan. 27 -- In the course of its wayward free throw shooting and inconsistent half-court offense this season, George Mason has embraced the correlation between playing quality defense and winning games.

The past four days have offered enlightening examples.

During Saturday's 59-41 victory over James Madison, the Patriots yielded fewer points in two halves than they did in the second half (44) of Wednesday's loss to first-place Virginia Commonwealth.

From the eight-minute mark of the first half until almost the seven-minute mark of the second half, a span of approximately 21 minutes, Mason (12-8, 6-4 Colonial Athletic Association) permitted just four field goals and turned a close game into another rout against its instate rivals before 5,151 at JMU Convocation Center.

"We got scored upon so regularly in the second half against VCU . . . we just asked the team to make a commitment to the defense and to understand that there are some nights you don't shoot that great but you can still win the game if your defense is consistently good," Patriots Coach Jim Larranaga said. "We emphasized that to our players and they obviously took that message very seriously."

Mason has held opponents to 50 points or less six times this season, and on Saturday, that effort more than compensated for the team's 17 turnovers and mediocre shooting. Folarin Campbell led the way with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals, rejuvenated point guard Jordan Carter continued his steady play with 11 points and three three-pointers and Will Thomas worked the low post for 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

After leading by just six at the break and by four after Kyle Swanston's jumper to start the second half, the Patriots embarked on a 17-1 run that all but secured their sixth consecutive victory over the Dukes (6-14, 3-7) and their third straight blowout in Harrisonburg.

The offensive key was getting the ball regularly to Thomas, who drew double- and triple-teams and, when not muscling to the basket, found teammates for open jumpers.

His power layup and free throw gave the Patriots a 29-21 lead and, on the ensuing possession, Thomas absorbed low-post pressure before finding Dre Smith in the corner for a three-pointer. The Dukes did not get closer than 10 again.

"In the second half [Thomas] became a factor in the game and they blew it wide open," said Joe Posey, who led the Dukes with 12 points and was the only JMU player to make a three-pointer.

Mason's defensive key was pressuring the Dukes before they could get comfortable in their half-court offense and not permitting second chances. JMU -- which shot 36 percent from the field, 21 percent on three-pointers and 53 percent from the free throw line -- had only four offensive rebounds and lost the overall rebounding battle 34-23.

"We know we did a terrible job" defensively against VCU, Campbell said, "so we didn't want James Madison to do the same. The guards did an excellent job today and that was our goal. We just wanted to focus on defense."

Patriots Notes: Larranaga received a technical foul -- his first in several years -- for storming onto the court after disputing two calls against his team in the first half.

"I think that's the first 'T' I've seen Coach L get," Campbell said, grinning at his coach. "He's fighting for his team. He tells us not to talk to the refs, so he's going to work for them. We got a couple calls after that, so he did what he's supposed to do." . . . The Patriots expect to find out Monday who they will play in their Feb. 17 Bracket Busters game.