George Mason Wins Its Way Back
CAA Tournament Title Secures Another Berth In NCAA Postseason

By Steven Goff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

RICHMOND, March 10 -- As the final seconds ticked away Monday night at Richmond Coliseum, the George Mason Patriots and their swarming green-and-gold clad fans celebrated a second trip to the NCAA tournament in three years. But what will make the Patriots' return to the national stage different is the manner in which they will arrive.

No anxious waits, no persuasive arguments for an at-large berth.

The Patriots sealed their first automatic bid in seven years with a 68-59 victory over upset-minded William & Mary, completing three days of astounding defense and timely offense to claim the Colonial Athletic Association tournament title.

"To be a part of this and go to the NCAA tournament and not have to worry about, 'Are we going to get an at-large bid?' -- just sitting at the TV on Selection Sunday and knowing our name is going to be picked is a great feeling," said senior guard Folarin Campbell, who was named the tournament's most valuable player after tallying 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists against the Tribe.

The triumph by the third-seeded Patriots (23-10) marked only the fifth time in the league's 26 years that one of the top two seeds did not win the championship. Mason had lost in the 2004 and '07 finals, and an at-large berth two years ago preceded its historic run to the Final Four.

Senior forward Will Thomas, who like Campbell started on that 2006 squad, had 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting and added 13 rebounds. And for the second consecutive evening, the Patriots received a significant boost from their reserves as freshman Cam Long and junior Chris Fleming combined to shoot 7 of 10 for 15 points and add eight rebounds and four assists.

The Patriots never trailed, but the fifth-seeded Tribe, seeking late-game heroics for the fourth straight game, did not fold. Mason's defense, which held Northeastern to 52 points and UNC Wilmington to 41 in the first two games of the tournament, held the Tribe to 38 percent shooting and had a 35-28 rebounding advantage.

"We came here with a mind-set that it isn't really about the offense," Patriots Coach Jim Larranaga said. "You have days when you shoot great, you have days when everything clicks on offense, but you have days when you don't shoot so great, and it's so important your defense be your consistent part of your game.

"It takes great effort, great heart, great determination and a great team effort, and I thought that's what we did for three straight days."

Campbell, who missed 6 of 7 shots in the first half, sparked a 9-0 run after halftime to give Mason a 10-point lead. He made three three-pointers in 8 1/2 minutes and then hit free throws down the stretch.

Laimis Kisielius scored 15 of his 22 points in the first half for the Tribe (17-16), but could not do it alone after intermission.

"We really couldn't get others going," Tribe Coach Tony Shaver said. "It's tough to come from behind on the fourth day."

The Patriots led by eight early, but the Tribe responded to pull within one at the break.

With the way Mason's play had deteriorated and the Tribe's shooting had improved, there was a growing sense that another upset was brewing. But 90 seconds into the second half, Shaver called a timeout after John Vaughan's baseline floater and Thomas's putback. Things only got worse as Dre Smith made a lane jumper and the Tribe continued to stumble.

Campbell finally got on track, hitting a three-pointer, for a 10-point advantage. David Schneider ended the Tribe's drought with two free throws at the 16-minute 22-second mark, but Thomas powered for a layup and Campbell drilled another three-pointer for a 41-30 advantage.

The Tribe found a shooting rhythm, but at the other end it could not stop the Patriots -- more specifically, Campbell and Fleming. Fleming made a jumper and a driving layup, and after hitting another three-pointer, Campbell fed Long for an alley-oop dunk and a 13-point lead.

Fleming made "some timely baskets for us and when he did, I could sense the emotional lift it gave the other guys," Larranaga said. "When Folarin scores, that's routine. When Will scores, that's routine, but when Chris Fleming scores, everyone is excited."

The Tribe drew within seven on Kisielius's fourth three-pointer with 4 1/2 minutes left, but did not make another shot until just 15 seconds remained. Mason's 14-of-16 free throw shooting down the stretch sealed victory and another trip to the NCAAs.

"There's no pressure on us," Thomas said. "No one has been talking about us being on the bubble or anything. . . . We can go a little under the radar. We're going to go and have the most fun of any team at the NCAA tournament."