Smith, Mason Are on Target

George Mason 89, Delaware 59

On George Mason's second possession during its 89-59 demolition of Delaware last night, Dre Smith collected a pass on the left side and launched an open three-pointer. The way things had been going -- or not going -- for Smith and the Patriots the past week, there was no telling whether this attempt would find the target or signal another treacherous outing.

Smith made that one, then another and another. The rest of the Patriots followed his lead, uniting to shoot 63.3 percent and make 9 of 15 three-pointers before 4,553 at Patriot Center. At one point late in the game, Mason's success rate surpassed 71 percent, threatening the program record of 69.7 set 25 years ago against East Carolina.

"It gets everybody going, it gets everybody's energy up and the confidence to shoot," said Smith, a junior college transfer who had shot 4 of 16 (2 of 12 on three-pointers) in the previous three games and had gone scoreless against UNC Wilmington on Monday. "After I made the shot, you could see it in guys' eyes, looking for that kind of shot and [to] know, 'I can make that shot also.' "

Folarin Campbell finished with 21 points, Will Thomas didn't miss a shot in scoring 14 and Smith and John Vaughn added 12 apiece for Mason (13-9, 7-5 Colonial Athletic Association), which rebounded from Monday's embarrassing loss at UNCW with a season high for points. Take away Jordan Carter's 1-of-5 effort, and Mason's starters were a combined 18 for 24.

Herb Courtney had 16 points for the Blue Hens (4-19, 2-10), who did not lead after the first two minutes and fell to 1-11 on the road.

"I thought we played a very complete game at both ends of the floor," Mason Coach Jim Larranaga said. "We really established our inside game early . . . and then being very unselfish and finding the open man on the perimeter."

Before the game, Larranaga instructed his team to take "more perimeter shots early than inside shots. It's really kind of contrary to our offensive philosophy." By getting the ball inside to Thomas, who drew constant double-teams, the Patriots' outside shooters found themselves open. And unlike the previous three games, when they made just 16 of 61 three-pointers, the Patriots hardly missed.

"Everything just came easy," Campbell said.

Smith's opening three-pointer was the spark the Patriots so badly needed. Thomas, who entered the week with the nation's fifth-best field goal percentage, quickly established his low-post game and scored 12 points in the first nine minutes.

Smith followed with a three-pointer from the right side and another from the top of the key as the Patriots made 12 of their first 18 field goal attempts and set a season high for points before halftime to take a 44-27 lead.

The shooting surge continued after the break. Campbell struck for two three-pointers in the first minute and a half and after Smith hit again, Campbell stroked another deep shot to extend the lead to 58-36. Mason made 10 of its first 11 attempts, toying with the Blue Hens from all angles and distances, and had 11 players score.

Said Larranaga, "That combination of them missing, us making, a lot of possessions, means high scoring for the team that's got the hot hand."