SB Nation DC - CAA Tournament 2012: VCU Holds On, Beats Drexel 59-56 To Win CAA Title https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2012-03-07T15:58:13-05:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/25901202012-03-07T15:58:13-05:002012-03-07T15:58:13-05:00George Mason Won't Accept Bid To CBI Or CIT Tournaments If Left Out Of NIT
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<p>George Mason athletic director Tom O'Conner announced Wednesday that the George Mason men's basketball team would not accept a bid from the two lower tier College Basketball tournaments, the College Basketball Invitational or the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). The reason for not wanting to participate in either tournament is financial according to O'Conner.</p>
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<p>If Mason isn't chosen for NIT, they won't pursue CBI or CIT tournaments, AD O'Connor says. "Financially not in our best interests" <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523masonmbb">#masonmbb</a></p>
— Steven Goff (@GMUWashPost) <a data-datetime="2012-03-07T19:53:35+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/GMUWashPost/status/177482144631885825">March 7, 2012</a>
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<p>Given the fact that the last time the Patriots were in the CIT they blew a 25-point lead to Fairfield, this may not be a bad idea, but this decision would also deprive George Mason from playing against other competition they normally wouldn't play.</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on CAA men's basketball in March, be sure to check out this <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/2/26/2826079/caa-tournament-2012-george-mason-patriots-will-be-no-3-seed-in" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #093369; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SB Nation DC StoryStream</b></a>. Meanwhile, SB Nation's <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/2012/ncaa-basketball" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #093369; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">college basketball hub</b></a> will have all the news and nuggets you need in preparation for March and the madness it brings.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/george-mason-patriots/2012/3/7/2852542/cbi-tournament-2012-cit-nit-george-mason-basketballTim Blank2012-03-06T11:58:58-05:002012-03-06T11:58:58-05:002012 CAA Tournament Title: VCU Wins Automatic NCAA Tournament Bid, Will Drexel Get An Invite?
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<p>Thoughts from courtside of a memorable CAA Tournament final in Richmond.</p> <p>RICHMOND -- The Virginia Commonwealth University Rams are going dancing again. VCU defeated Drexel 59-56 in the 2012 CAA Tournament Championship Game, earning the league's automatic berth in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Monday evening's battle at the Richmond Coliseum saw the conference's top two seeds square off, with the Rams (28-6) edging the Dragons (27-6) for their second consecutive trip to the Big Dance and fourth appearance in the past six seasons.</p>
<p>VCU's recipe for success was once again tenacious defense, but this time it was mixed in with the blossoming play of junior guard <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100332/darius-theus" class="sbn-auto-link">Darius Theus</a>. The Rams forced 17 Dragons turnovers in the game and held Drexel to 35.3 percent shooting from the floor. VCU put on a particularly aggressive performance in the first half, when the Rams held Drexel to 26.9 percent shooting and turned the Dragons over 12 times.</p>
<p>The Rams defensive pressure is so intense you would often think Shaka Smart's team has six men on the floor, rather than the customary five. The VCU pressure was indeed the star before halftime, spurring a 23-10 run over the final 10 minutes of the first half to put VCU up 16 points at the break, 35-19.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.caahoops.com/2012/03/you-dont-want-to-go-to-war/">CAA scribe extraordinaire Michael Litos noted</a> that VCU, the team that already led the nation in steals (10.7 per game), ended the game with 10 more thefts, extending their conference record number to 363 steals on the season. Havoc may no longer properly describe what they do. Mayhem would be a start, but then again Allstate might not be happy with the usage. I digress.</p>
<p>VCU looked in complete control to end the first half, and had disrupted the Drexel offense, particularly the guard handoffs to initiate sets, to the point of utter frustration. Frustration, and most likely exhaustion as well, since three Dragons starters (Frantz Massenat, <a href="../../../ncaa-basketball/players/52037/chris-fouch" class="sbn-auto-link">Chris Fouch</a> and <a href="../../../ncaa-basketball/players/145286/damion-lee" class="sbn-auto-link">Damion Lee</a>) played all 20 minutes in the first half and would , in fact, end up playing all 40 minutes in the game .</p>
<p>It would not have been a stretch to say Drexel was in serious trouble to open the second half, but Bruiser Flint and his Dragons were not to be outdone. In a game befitting the two gritty clubs competing, Drexel turned up their own defensive intensity in the second half, with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145286/damion-lee" class="sbn-auto-link">Damion Lee</a> exploding for 15 of his 20 points after halftime as Drexel continued to chip away at the VCU lead. The Dragons trailed just 55-53 with 21.6 seconds to play. After two clutch <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100333/troy-daniels" class="sbn-auto-link">Troy Daniels</a> free throws, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123460/frantz-massenat" class="sbn-auto-link">Frantz Massenat's</a> three point attempt was just long, sending VCU to the Dance for the tenth time in school history.</p>
<p>For the Rams, Daniels made four huge free throws down the stretch. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146416/treveon-graham" class="sbn-auto-link">Treveon Graham</a> added 13 points. VCU big men <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124592/juvonte-reddic" class="sbn-auto-link">Juvonte Reddic</a> and D.J. Haley deserve tremendous credit for holding the Drexel front line of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52717/samme-givens" class="sbn-auto-link">Samme Givens</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100218/daryl-mccoy" class="sbn-auto-link">Daryl McCoy</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123464/dartaye-ruffin" class="sbn-auto-link">Dartaye Ruffin</a> to just five field goal attempts and seven total points in the game. But the star of the game was without a doubt Darius Theus.</p>
<p>I didn't forget about Theus. I was simply saving the evening's best for last. The junior guard (according to Smart, the first player he recruited to VCU) had 16 points (on 7-for-12 shooting), five assists, five steals, and four rebounds to lead the Rams. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after tallying 11 steals and 15 assists over the the course of three games, and more importantly, efficiently and effectively running the VCU offense. Senior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52918/bradford-burgess" class="sbn-auto-link">Bradford Burgess</a>, a player who has made the most consecutive starts in NCAA history (144) , was asked about Theus after the game, and had nothing but accolades to bestow upon his teammate:</p>
<p>"Darius is an amazing floor general. He's been under Joey (Rodriguez), he's had guidance from Eric (maynor), he's really paid his dues his first few years. He's been running the show this year," he said.</p>
<p>The fans in Richmond got what they came to see, a VCU win and the automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. But they also witnessed a team worthy of a NCAA tournament berth in Drexel. Much like VCU last year, the Dragons must wait a week and sweat out Selection Sunday to see if they will earn a second bid for the CAA. This is a team that has won 19 of their last 20 games. They struggled in non-conference play in part because they were without one of their best players, guard <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52037/chris-fouch" class="sbn-auto-link">Chris Fouch</a>. Drexel was 2-3 without Fouch, and were 27-3 with him. The Dragons just came a hair shy of winning the CAA tournament, and guard <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100217/derrick-thomas" class="sbn-auto-link">Derrick Thomas</a> never saw the floor, having been suspended by the team prior to the weekend.</p>
<p>Sunday, we will find out if Bruiser Flint's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/drexel-dragons" class="sbn-auto-link" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Drexel Dragons</a> join VCU in this year's NCAA Tournament field. Those who witnessed the battle Monday night in the Coliseum will already tell you they say two Dance-worthy participants. Even Mr. Magoo could pass this eye test.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, there's one other person who thinks Drexel is a NCAA tournament team. Perhaps you've heard of him: Shaka Smart.</p>
<p>"To me there's no doubt that they're a NCAA tournament team," he said.</p>
<p><i>For more on CAA men's basketball and the NCAA tournament, be sure to stay tuned to this <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/2/26/2826079/caa-tournament-2012-george-mason-patriots-will-be-no-3-seed-in"><b>SB Nation DC StoryStream</b></a>. Meanwhile, SB Nation's <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/2012/ncaa-basketball"><b>college basketball hub</b></a> will have all the news and nuggets you need in preparation for March and the madness it brings.</i></p>
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https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/3/6/2848773/vcu-2012-caa-tournament-champion-drexelT.J. Doyle2012-03-05T21:18:26-05:002012-03-05T21:18:26-05:002012 CAA Championship Game: VCU Holds On To Defeat Drexel, 59-56
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<p>The Virginia Commonwealth Rams are dancing once again. VCU captured the 2012 CAA tournament championship on Monday night with a 59-56 win over the no.1 seeded <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/drexel-dragons">Drexel Dragons</a>. The Rams jumped all over George Mason on Sunday, and they raced out early yet again in the title game. Shaka Smart has had his team ready to play all week long in Richmond, and the Rams closed out the first half to take a 16-point lead into the locker room.</p>
<p>Much like Mason, Drexel would chip away at the lead throughout the second half and get within one with ten seconds to play. But <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100333/troy-daniels">Troy Daniels</a> would hit his two free-throws to push the VCU lead back to three. A <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123460/frantz-massenat">Frantz Massenat</a> three-pointer would hit the back of the iron and VCU would pull down the rebound to seal the title and automatic berth to the big dance.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52918/bradford-burgess">Bradford Burgess</a> had an off-night, hitting just two of nine attempts from the floor and going 0 for three from behind the arc. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100332/darius-theus">Darius Theus</a> was there to pick up some of the scoring slack for Smart's club, and despite a bad late turnover, had a spectacular all-around floor game. The junior from Portsmouth led the Rams with 16 points but also had five assists and five steals.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145286/damion-lee">Damion Lee</a>, the outstanding freshman from Baltimore, lead the Dragons with a game-high 20 points and started the comeback in the second half. The Dragons hit 13 of 14 from the charity stripe to get it close but VCU came up with the stops when it mattered most.</p>
<p>Squarely on the bubble as a mid-major, Drexel will now have to sweat out Selection Sunday while the Rams sit comfortably awaiting their seed and region.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the CAA men's basketball tournament 2012, be sure to check out this <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #093369; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/2/26/2826079/caa-tournament-2012-george-mason-patriots-will-be-no-3-seed-in"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SB Nation DC StoryStream</b></a>. Meanwhile, SB Nation's <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #093369; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/2012/ncaa-basketball"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">college basketball hub</b></a> will have all the news and nuggets you need in preparation for March and the madness it brings.</i></span></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/george-mason-patriots/2012/3/5/2847844/2012-caa-championship-game-vcu-drexelBrendan Porath2012-03-05T19:55:49-05:002012-03-05T19:55:49-05:002012 CAA Championship Game: VCU Jumps Out To 35-19 Lead At The Half
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<p>The Virginia Commonwealth Rams jumped out to big first half lead over Drexel in the CAA Conference Championship game on Monday night. The Rams finished the first half leading by a score of 35-19. </p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100332/darius-theus">Darius Theus</a> leads the Rams with 10 points, hitting five of six field goal attempts. Theus is one of five players with at least two rebounds in the first half. </p>
<p>Shooting has been a big problem for Drexel. They are shooting slightly less than 27 percent from the field, hitting just seven of 26 shots in the first half. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123460/frantz-massenat">Frantz Massenat</a> leads the Dragons with eight points. </p>
<p>The Rams are riding high after holding off a George Mason comeback on Sunday. That game put VCU in the championship. VCU is one half away from claiming the CAA crown. If they win, their next game will be in the NCAA Tournament. </p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the CAA men's basketball tournament 2012, be sure to check out this <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #093369; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/2/26/2826079/caa-tournament-2012-george-mason-patriots-will-be-no-3-seed-in"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SB Nation DC StoryStream</b></a>. Meanwhile, SB Nation's <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #093369; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/2012/ncaa-basketball"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">college basketball hub</b></a> will have all the news and nuggets you need in preparation for March and the madness it brings.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/george-mason-patriots/2012/3/5/2847617/2012-caa-championship-game-vcu-drexelRyan Van Bibber2012-03-05T09:21:04-05:002012-03-05T09:21:04-05:002012 CAA Championship Game: VCU Vs. Drexel TV Schedule
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<p>The VCU Rams have a shot at the CAA Tournament title and the Conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament when they face Drexel tonight in a Nationally televised final game. VCU ousted George Mason in the semifinals to get to this game while Drexel got past Old Dominion. </p>
<p>These have been two of the best teams in the Conference all season long, but it doesn't seem like either one of them would be able to get an at-large bid into the Big Dance, so winning this game is the only way they will get an invitation. Lots on the line in Richmond tonight. </p>
<p>Here is all the information you need to find the game tonight. </p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Game Date/Time</b>: Monday, March 5th, 7 p.m. ET</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Venue</b>: Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">TV</b>: ESPN, ESPN3</p>
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<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the CAA men's basketball tournament 2012, be sure to check out this <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #093369; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/2/26/2826079/caa-tournament-2012-george-mason-patriots-will-be-no-3-seed-in"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SB Nation DC StoryStream</b></a>. Meanwhile, SB Nation's <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #093369; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/2012/ncaa-basketball"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">college basketball hub</b></a> will have all the news and nuggets you need in preparation for March and the madness it brings.</i></span></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/george-mason-patriots/2012/3/5/2846050/2012-caa-championship-game-vcu-vs-drexel-tv-scheduleJordan Ruby2012-03-05T08:54:57-05:002012-03-05T08:54:57-05:00CAA Tournament 2012: Bracket, Schedule And More
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<p>The Rams of VCU managed to hold off a late charge by George Mason yesterday in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/2012/3/2/2839034/caa-tournament-2012-bracket-schedule-game-times">CAA tournament</a> semifinal, earning a date with Drexel today which will decide the Conference Championship and the automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Tournament.</p>
<p>Drexel has been the class of the CAA all season long, they have a 16-2 Conference record and a 27-5 record overall. These two teams have met once this year and Drexel was able to get 64-58 win at home. Frantz Massenat of Drexel scored a career high 24 on 7-10 shooting and a ridiculous 4-4 from beyond the arch. The Rams should have a much easier time today because the game will be played in Richmond, Virginia. If they can up their defense a little bit form their last meeting, the home crowd might be able to spur them on to a win and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the CAA men's basketball tournament 2012, be sure to check out this <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #093369; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/2/26/2826079/caa-tournament-2012-george-mason-patriots-will-be-no-3-seed-in"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SB Nation DC StoryStream</b></a>. Meanwhile, SB Nation's <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #093369; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/2012/ncaa-basketball"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">college basketball hub</b></a> will have all the news and nuggets you need in preparation for March and the madness it brings.</i></span></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/george-mason-patriots/2012/3/5/2845989/2012-caa-tournament-schedule-bracket-vcuJordan Ruby2012-03-04T18:53:54-05:002012-03-04T18:53:54-05:00George Mason Vs. VCU Recap: Patriots Comeback Falls Short As Rams Advance To CAA Championship Game
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<p>George Mason nearly pulled off an incredible comeback in the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament semifinals but huge early deficit was simply too much to overcome on Sunday night. The VCU Rams hit their free-throws down the stretch to hang on for a 74-64 win over the Patriots. GMU trailed by as many as 28 points in the first half, but slowly chipped away at the VCU lead to cut it to six with under four minutes to play to make it interesting.</p>
<p>Conference Player of the Year Ryan Pearson had his most quiet game of the season, adding only six points on just three attempts from the field. His senior partner in the front court Mike Morrison picked up some of the slack, having perhaps his best game of the year. He finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds but it was not enough </p>
<p>Bradford Burgess led VCU with 20 points, hitting five three pointers and pacing the early run that put them out in front by more than 20 points. The Rams move on to the CAA title game, where they will face a Drexel team that is the No. 1 seed and playing great basketball this week in Richmond.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the CAA men's basketball tournament 2012, be sure to check out this <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #093369; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/2/26/2826079/caa-tournament-2012-george-mason-patriots-will-be-no-3-seed-in"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SB Nation DC StoryStream</b></a>. Meanwhile, SB Nation's <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #093369; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/2012/ncaa-basketball"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">college basketball hub</b></a> will have all the news and nuggets you need in preparation for March and the madness it brings.</i></span></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/george-mason-patriots/2012/3/4/2844923/george-mason-vs-vcu-recap-final-score-caa-championshipBrendan Porath2012-03-04T17:38:06-05:002012-03-04T17:38:06-05:00George Mason Vs. VCU Score Update: Mason Falls Behind By 28 Points Early, But Cuts It To 16 At Half
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<p>It was an ugly first half for the George Mason Patriots, but not nearly as ugly as the halftime score would indicate. The Patriots fell behind 22-0 to start the game and were down 32-4 just nine minutes into the first half. But GMU went on a 17-5 run late to get it as close as 16 points, giving themselves at least a chance in the final twenty minutes. The run came with CAA Player of the Year Ryan Pearson on the bench for a significant portion. Pearson has more turnovers than points in the first half, scoring just one bucket so far. His frontcourt-mate <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52732/mike-morrison">Mike Morrison</a> picked up the slack, scoring 12 points and grabbing six boards to get Mason back within striking distance.</p>
<p>The Rams had no issues on the offensive end, hitting on all cylinders to race out to those 32 points in just nine minutes. They finished the half eight of 13 from behind the arc, for an amazing 62 percent from three-point range. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52918/bradford-burgess">Bradford Burgess</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100333/troy-daniels">Troy Daniels</a> lead the Rams with 11 points each.</p>
<p>The Patriots will have to hope the Rams continue to cool off to cut the lead to single digits. It would be an incredible comeback if they can pull it off.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the CAA men's basketball tournament 2012, be sure to check out this <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #093369; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/2/26/2826079/caa-tournament-2012-george-mason-patriots-will-be-no-3-seed-in"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SB Nation DC StoryStream</b></a>. Meanwhile, SB Nation's <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #093369; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/2012/ncaa-basketball"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">college basketball hub</b></a> will have all the news and nuggets you need in preparation for March and the madness it brings.</i></span></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/george-mason-patriots/2012/3/4/2844802/george-mason-vs-vcu-score-update-mason-falls-behind-by-26-pointsBrendan Porath