Fairfax, Va. -- Marko Gujanicic's fallaway three at the first-half buzzer has the George Mason Patriots in front of the Virginia Cavaliers, 28-25 following a fast-paced, physical, low-scoring first half at the Patriot Center.
George Mason started fast, hitting six of their first eight shots to take a 15-7 lead. But the Patriots promptly missed nine of their next ten, as Virginia ripped off ten straight points and took a 17-15 lead when Darion Atkins completed a three-point play with 10:08 remaining.
From that point, the teams stuck close to each other through the rest of the half, with neither holding a bigger lead than three points. Justin Anderson made one of two free throws for the Cavaliers to tie the game at 25-25 with 29 seconds left, but after George Mason nearly lost the ball around the three-point line, Gujanicic was able to square up and knock down the long three.
For George Mason, Sherrod Wright leads all scorers with nine points, while Akil Mitchell leads Virginia with seven points. The Patriots have had the better shooting night from the floor (11-for-25, 44.0 percent to Virginia's 10-for-30 showing), but the Cavaliers have outperformed George Mason on the offensive glass, 7-2. Virginia is also outrebounding George Mason, 19-16.