George Mason outlasts Northeastern

By Joe Conroy

Published: March 10, 2008

RICHMOND—John Vaughan once again proved himself to be invaluable to George Ma-son’s defense as he has game after game this season by holding Northeastern’s top offensive threat to just 10 points in a 63-52 Patriot win in the Colonial Athletic Association Tour-nament quarterfinals at the Richmond Coliseum Saturday.

Matt Janning, who averaged more than 16 points per game on 45 percent shooting in the regular season, could not get consistent open looks and was 2 of 13 from the floor thanks to Vaughan’s pressure as well as a strong defensive rotation that included every Mason player at some point.

“It’s not that he’s shut everybody down every night,“ Mason coach Jim Larranaga said. “Nobody does that. But from a consistent standpoint, he does a terrific job. [Tonight] is the kind of performance we know John Vaughan can step up to the plate and de-liver.“

Folarin Campbell led the Patriots with 20 points, with 10 coming on a 10-for-13 night at the free throw line. Will Thomas chipped in 17 points, while grabbing a game-high eight rebounds. The two seniors also both went over 1,500 points for their respective careers in the game.

But it was team defense that led to the win. Mason held Northeastern to just 36 percent shooting on the night and just four 3-pointers.

“We just played terrific defense,“ Campbell said. “It doesn’t matter what we do on offense, as long as we play defense and stop somebody.“

The Patriots will need more of that defense tonight when they face UNC Wilmington, a team Ma-son lost to twice already this year.

The Seahawks dismantled Delaware 82-59 just prior to Mason’s game.