After an overtime upset loss to Florida Atlantic over the weekend, the George Mason Patriots got back on track Monday night with a 74-48 blow out NIT win over the Brown Bears. Mason's Ivy League opponent was overmatched from the jump, as the Patriots raced out to a 16 point first half lead. The Bears shot a horrendous 20% from three, hitting only five of their 25 attempts on the night. Paul Hewitt's defense, which has been a concern over the first two weeks of the season, held the Bears to just 33% from the field.
The Patriots were once again led by Senior Ryan Pearson, who maintained his 20 plus point per game average on the season, filling it up with 23 points for Mason. Pearson had an incredibly efficient game down low, hitting 9 of 14 attempts while draining two of his four three point attempts outside. With Pearson and Mike Morrison, the Patriots were simply too much up front for the Ivy Leaguers and out-rebounded the Bears by ten.
Mason improves to 3-2 on the season and will come right back on Tuesday night to face an Albany team that defeated Monmouth on Monday at the Patriot Center in the opening round of the preseason NIT. Tip time is scheduled for 7:30 in Fairfax.