Patriots Capitalize On 3-Point Binge

George Mason 101, UNC Wilmington 60

When the NCAA extended the three-point arc this season, many thought the move would force teams to shoot less from the perimeter. But last night's Colonial Athletic Association game between George Mason and UNC Wilmington proved that teams that like to shoot jump shots are going to shoot them, no matter the distance.

Three-point shots were falling almost as easily as layups in the Patriots' 101-60 victory at Patriot Center, their first 100-point scoring output in four years and only their fourth under Coach Jim Larranaga. The 41-point loss was the Seahawks' largest defeat in the CAA.

The teams combined to make 21 three-pointers and took a total of 47 shots from behind the arc.

"In an up-tempo game, there's more space to work with," said Larranaga, whose team made a season-high 13 three-pointers. "The ball is being run up the floor in both directions, and so, while defenders are racing back to guard the basket, the three-pointer is normally available."

No one had more threes available on this night than John Vaughn, who played just 26 minutes in the blowout. The senior guard, who ranks seventh on the school's career list with 142 three-pointers, sank five shots from behind the arc to finish with 20 points -- one of five players to score in double figures for the Patriots (9-3, 2-0).

"For the record, I wasn't going for Dre Smith's record," Vaughn joked. "Most of our threes came in transition. They were wide open."

Smith set an NCAA Division I record last season for most three-pointers in a game without a miss (10). Vaughn made his first five shots from behind the arc before his first miss early in the second half.

The three-point shooting "spread the defense out more and that gave us more room for [the guards] to throw the ball inside and for us [forwards] to do our damage," said Ryan Pearson, who finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists for the Patriots.

UNC Wilmington takes 43 percent of its shots from behind the arc, making a CAA-high 9.5 per game. But if the Seahawks' 3-11, 0-2 record is any indication, it hasn't been a successful strategy.

Longwood Nips George Washington

Billy Robinson Jr.'s three-point play with 54 seconds left pushed Longwood past George Washington, 80-78, in Farmville, Va.

George Washington (6-6) led 71-66 with four minutes to play before Longwood (7-8) went on an 8-2 run for the game's 13th and final lead change. Four Lancers scored in double figures, led by Dana Smith with 16 points and Ryan Bogan with 14. Rob Diggs scored 20 points for the Colonials and Damian Hollis chipped in 19.

· LA SALLE 81, HOWARD 66: In Philadelphia, junior guard Rodney Green scored 21 points and went over the 1,000-point mark in his career for the Explorers.

Kimmani Barrett added 16 points for La Salle (8-5), which connected on 33 of 53 shots, including 11 of its first 13. Eugene Myatt scored 19 points and Chris McHenry 18 for the Bison (1-12), who have lost 12 straight since winning their season opener against Oregon State.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.