Third-seeded George Mason got a scare, but thanks to a layup by Byron Allen with 3.4 seconds left they were able to survive and defeat Georgia State 61-59 in the final quarterfinal game of the 2012 CAA Tournament Saturday night in Richmond.
The Panthers led for most of the game, but George Mason was finally able to take the lead thanks to a late second-half surge. Sherrod Wright played a pivotal role in the Patriots comeback, scoring all 10 of his points late in the contest. Georgia State managed to tie the game at 59 thanks to a steal and layup by James Fields, but Allen's drive sealed the deal for the Patriots. Mike Morrison led George Mason with 12 points, while James Fields paced the Panthers with 15.
Next up for the Patriots (24-8, 14-4 CAA) will be a showdown with second-seeded VCU in the semifinals. This will be the third meeting between these rivals, and after splitting their two encounters earlier this season each team is looking forward to winning the rubber match and keeping their respective NCAA tourney hopes alive.
For more on the CAA men's basketball tournament 2012, be sure to check out this SB Nation DC StoryStream. Meanwhile, SB Nation's college basketball hub will have all the news and nuggets you need in preparation for March and the madness it brings.