SPMT Blog Post 2 Mason La Salle Game Recap
On a Sunday afternoon in Fairfax an important A10 standings game was played between La Salle and George Mason. George Mason came in losing 2 games in Richmond to VCU and Richmond to drop from 1st to 4th the A10 standings. La Salle came in hot on a four game winning streak after starting the season 0-10 and is the best % 3 point shooting team in the A10. While George Mason is in the top 50 defending 3 point shooting %. Something had to give and a close game was expected and it turned out just to be just that as most of the contest was closely contested despite a mason start of 13-4 under 16 TO and 78-71 late lead in the 2nd half. Javon Greene and Jared Reuter did most of the scoring for George Mason in the first half but La Salle jumped to a 39-37 lead through hot 3 point shooting 7-0 run to end the half. Javon Greene had 17 at the half for George Mason. Things began to be tight 2nd half with technical fouls being called on Greene and La Salle Saul Phri which was his 3rd foul forced him into the bench and in foul trouble. The fouls began to rack on La Salle as George Mason hit the bonus early but it was game of offense most of the 2nd half as neither team could get stops and scoring went back and forth with La Salle staying hot behind the arc. George Mason playmakers in Justin Kier, Otis Livingston began to get it going lead the Mason attack down the stretch along with Jared Reuter being a force in the post and on the glass. Entering the under 4 timeout Mason was up 76-71 before Livingston made it 78-71 on a lineup which was the theme of the 2nd half getting into the paint for George Mason. La Salle refused to go away went on a 5-0 run to cut it to 2 points but that was as close as it got as Jordan Miller hit a layup as the shot clock was whining down and Mason got stops on La Salle final four possessions as they cooled off from behind the 3 point line. Javon Greene finished with a career high 21 points and 7 rebounds and four steals continuing his strong case for A10 All Defensive Team limiting La Salle best player Pookie Powell to only 6-16 shooting 2-8 from behind the 3 point arch. George Mason offense finished with balance scoring effort with Reuter, Livingston, Kier pitching in 16,14 and 13 points. It was a great and important win for George Mason (14-10 8-3) who have 4 of the next 6 games at home with seeding still wide open. George Mason next game is Wednesday at home against UMass 7:00 PM at the Eagle Bank Arena. Mason won their first contest in Amherst 68-63 back in January.
