George Mason vs. UMBC recap: Patriots hold off Retrievers behind Sherrod Wright's big night

After racing out to a 21-4 lead to begin the game, the George Mason Patriots needed only to hold off the UMBC Retrievers the rest of the night on their way to a 74-63 victory at the Patriot Center.

Patriots guard Sherrod Wright exploded early for George Mason, scoring the team's first five points and 13 of the team's first 19. Wright finished the night with 23 points.

But down as many as 19 in the first quarter, UMBC hung around, and closed the game to 10 at halftime after a 9-0 run to end the first half. Retrievers guard Brian Neller, who finished with nine points, nailed two key 3-pointers to help UMBC close the gap while the Patriots were held quiet at the end of the half.

The Retrievers got within six points in the early going of the second half, but Wright and the Patriots would not let UMBC's comeback bid get any closer. Forward Marko Gujanicic, who finished with 14 points off the bench, and forward Erik Copes, who finished with 10 points and four rebounds, helped keep UMBC at bay.

Retrievers forward Chase Plummer finished with 13 points and forward Brett Roseboro grabbed six rebounds and added 14 points to lead UMBC.