Four Guards Spark Sluggish Patriots

George Mason 58, Georgia State 52

Patriot Center fell so quiet during the second half last night, George Mason Coach Jim Larranaga could be heard mumbling on the sideline -- an expression of disgust after watching his team make two baskets in almost 13 1/2 minutes, miss a series of free throws and allow a 10-point lead dissolve into a three-point deficit.

Larranaga decided to drop his usual three-guard arrangement, but instead of beefing up the front court, he inserted another guard. The smaller lineup worked wonders, lifting the Patriots to a 58-52 victory over Georgia State and keeping Mason unbeaten both at home and in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Not surprisingly, guards instigated and capped a 16-4 run as the Patriots (10-3, 3-0) surged to a 53-44 lead with 1 minute 25 seconds remaining in front of 3,841 observers.

Freshman Andre Cornelius's tying three-pointer energized the listless Patriots, and after a series of transition baskets, sophomore Cam Long made a pair of three-pointers to subdue the fading Panthers (4-10, 2-1).

"Because of the lack of intensity, I turned to my assistant coaches and said, 'Do you think we should go to a four-guard offense and try to get some pressure on them?' " Larranaga said. "I didn't expect to play it the whole [final] eight minutes, but they really got it going."

Long had 18 points and nine rebounds and senior forward Darryl Monroe contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds to help offset a mostly dreary evening. Two days after blistering UNC Wilmington with 13 three-pointers and 59 second-half points in a 101-60 victory, the Patriots missed 12 of their first 13 long-distance shots, converted just 12 of 20 free throws and had almost twice as many turnovers as assists.

"We got off to a slow start, the energy was kind of low," Monroe said. "Eventually, we were able to play our defense."

Larranaga said the Patriots seemed mentally tired, and although they overcame an early seven-point deficit to lead by six at halftime, they were unable to sustain a rhythm. With Mason's offense breaking down, the Panthers drew even midway through the second half and went ahead, 40-37, with about seven minutes left.

Larranaga used Long, Cornelius and guards Dre Smith and John Vaughan with Monroe. "We really did it for defensive purposes, believe it or not, to put some quickness out on the floor and get some open-court baskets," he said.

Long was surprised by the move because "they were kind of big and I had to guard one of the big men. But on the offensive end, since we have four guards, it just opened up everything a lot more and we were able to get it to Darryl and penetrate and kick it out."

After Cornelius tied it, Monroe's blocked shot keyed Smith's fast-break layup and Vaughan swept to the basket for his only field goal. The Panthers got within 44-42, but Monroe's free throw, Smith's transition basket and the Long's three-pointer increased the lead to 50-42 with three minutes left. Long's ensuing three-pointer from the right corner all but sealed Mason's 20th victory in the past 21 home games and seventh straight this season.

"We started clicking," Long said, "one after another."

· AMERICAN 62, COLUMBIA 50: Garrison Carr hit seven of nine three-point shots on his way to scoring 23 points as the Eagles beat the Lions at Bender Arena for their third straight victory.

Leading 36-30 with 15 minutes left, the Eagles (8-6) began a 14-2 run, marked by Derrick Mercer's pair of putbacks and a pass to Carr for the first of consecutive three-pointers. The Lions (4-9) never came closer than 11 the rest of the game.

· NAVY 66, ELON 62: Adam Teague scored four of his 11 points during an 8-0 run in the game's final 1:33 to help the Midshipmen overcome the Phoenix in Elon, N.C.

Chris Harris led the Midshipmen (11-4) with 14 points, while Clif Colbert and Kaleo Kina scored 13 apiece. Ola Atoyebi and Chris Long scored 14 points each to lead the Phoenix (4-6).