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George Mason overcomes Kansas State
By Fred Goodall, AP Sports Writer
Friday, November 23, 2007 | No comments posted.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Michael Beasley was every bit as good as advertised, and Kansas State still couldn’t keep pace with George Mason.
“Physical talent. Everybody recognizes that, and we put so much emphasis on the more talented team should win,” George Mason coach Jim Larranaga after the Patriots upset the 18th-ranked Wildcats 87-77 in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic on Thursday night.
“But there’s all different kinds of talent. Experience gives you a talent of understanding. If you’re smart, and you use that experience and recognize things then you counterbalance physical talent. I think that’s what our seniors did tonight.”
Beasley had 30 points and 10 rebounds, however he only played 25 minutes because of foul trouble and his teammates were no match for George Mason’s experience and poise.
John Vaughan scored 21 points and Folarin Campbell and Will Thomas each added 18 for the Patriots (4-0), who have won four straight to start a season for the first time in school history.
George Mason, which made a surprising run to the Final Four two seasons ago, started three seniors, a fourth-year junior in Vaughan, and a freshman. Kansas State (3-1) countered with four freshmen, including Beasley, and one senior.
The Patriots advanced to the second round of the eight-team tournament to face No. 20 Villanova, a 76-68 winner over Central Florida.
“National TV, Thanksgiving night,” Vaughan said. “To beat a Top 20 team says a lot about our team character.”
Blake Young, Kansas State’s lone starting senior, believed it said a lot more about what veteran leadership means.
“They played like a senior team. ... You live and you learn,” Young said. “We didn’t play our best, but we’ve still got a lot of chances to prove that we’re good.”
George Mason took control with a 19-10 run in the last eight minutes of the opening half with Beasley on the bench because of foul trouble.
The 6-foot-10 freshman scored 22 after halftime, but got little help from his teammates until it was too late.
“That again is a learning process for us,” Kansas State coach Frank Martin said. “We were so dependent on Mike the first three games of the season that we have to learn that life goes on when he’s not in the game.”
No. 20 Villanova 76,
Central Florida 68
At Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Scottie Reynolds scored 19 points and Corey Fisher added 18 to lead Villanova to a victory over Central Florida in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic.
Reynolds made five free throws in the final 1:42, and Fisher and Reggie Redding also delivered clutch second-half performances for the Wildcats (3-0), who led by 12 in the first half and were up 10 in the second half before UCF (2-1) rallied to keep the outcome in doubt until the closing seconds.
O’Donnell led UCF with 24 points, 15 of them in the second half when he made four of his six 3-pointers.
No. 14 Gonzaga 74,
Western Kentucky 71
At Anchorage, Alaska, Matt Bouldin scored 18 points and Gonzaga rallied to beat Western Kentucky in the first round of the Great Alaska Shootout.
Western Kentucky (3-1) ran off eight straight points to start the second half and led by as many as seven with 13:13 to go. But Gonzaga whittled it down and tied it at 60 on two Jeremy Pargo free throws with 6:12 left.
After shooting only 50 percent from the free throw line for most of the game, the Bulldogs (4-0) sank all eight attempts in the final 6:12.
Courtney Lee scored 19 points to lead Western Kentucky.
No. 19 Southern Illinois 63, Chattanooga 41
At Anaheim, Calif., Randal Falker scored 21 points and Southern Illinois dominated the second half in a victory over Chattanooga in the opening round of the Anaheim Classic.
Bryan Mullins added 10 points for the Salukis, who reached the final 16 of the NCAA tournament last season. Falker and Mullins are among three returning starters from that team.
Southern Illinois (2-0) advanced to Friday’s game against Mississippi State, which beat UC Irvine 68-53.
The Mocs (1-2) will play Irvine on Friday.
Stephen McDowell was the only player in double figures with 13 for Chattanooga, which fell to 2-12 on a neutral court against ranked opponents.
Southern California 60,
San Diego 50
At Anaheim, Calif., O.J. Mayo and Taj Gibson scored 20 points each and Southern California held off scrappy San Diego 60-50 in a first-round game of the new Anaheim Classic on Thursday night.
Mayo scored seven straight points in a game-ending 11-6 run that helped the Trojans (3-1) advance to Friday’s game against Miami of Ohio, which beat South Alabama 64-59.
San Diego (2-3) will play South Alabama. Brandon Johnson led the Toreros with 19 points while playing all 40 minutes.
“Physical talent. Everybody recognizes that, and we put so much emphasis on the more talented team should win,” George Mason coach Jim Larranaga after the Patriots upset the 18th-ranked Wildcats 87-77 in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic on Thursday night.
“But there’s all different kinds of talent. Experience gives you a talent of understanding. If you’re smart, and you use that experience and recognize things then you counterbalance physical talent. I think that’s what our seniors did tonight.”
Beasley had 30 points and 10 rebounds, however he only played 25 minutes because of foul trouble and his teammates were no match for George Mason’s experience and poise.
John Vaughan scored 21 points and Folarin Campbell and Will Thomas each added 18 for the Patriots (4-0), who have won four straight to start a season for the first time in school history.
George Mason, which made a surprising run to the Final Four two seasons ago, started three seniors, a fourth-year junior in Vaughan, and a freshman. Kansas State (3-1) countered with four freshmen, including Beasley, and one senior.
The Patriots advanced to the second round of the eight-team tournament to face No. 20 Villanova, a 76-68 winner over Central Florida.
“National TV, Thanksgiving night,” Vaughan said. “To beat a Top 20 team says a lot about our team character.”
Blake Young, Kansas State’s lone starting senior, believed it said a lot more about what veteran leadership means.
“They played like a senior team. ... You live and you learn,” Young said. “We didn’t play our best, but we’ve still got a lot of chances to prove that we’re good.”
George Mason took control with a 19-10 run in the last eight minutes of the opening half with Beasley on the bench because of foul trouble.
The 6-foot-10 freshman scored 22 after halftime, but got little help from his teammates until it was too late.
“That again is a learning process for us,” Kansas State coach Frank Martin said. “We were so dependent on Mike the first three games of the season that we have to learn that life goes on when he’s not in the game.”
No. 20 Villanova 76,
Central Florida 68
At Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Scottie Reynolds scored 19 points and Corey Fisher added 18 to lead Villanova to a victory over Central Florida in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic.
Reynolds made five free throws in the final 1:42, and Fisher and Reggie Redding also delivered clutch second-half performances for the Wildcats (3-0), who led by 12 in the first half and were up 10 in the second half before UCF (2-1) rallied to keep the outcome in doubt until the closing seconds.
O’Donnell led UCF with 24 points, 15 of them in the second half when he made four of his six 3-pointers.
No. 14 Gonzaga 74,
Western Kentucky 71
At Anchorage, Alaska, Matt Bouldin scored 18 points and Gonzaga rallied to beat Western Kentucky in the first round of the Great Alaska Shootout.
Western Kentucky (3-1) ran off eight straight points to start the second half and led by as many as seven with 13:13 to go. But Gonzaga whittled it down and tied it at 60 on two Jeremy Pargo free throws with 6:12 left.
After shooting only 50 percent from the free throw line for most of the game, the Bulldogs (4-0) sank all eight attempts in the final 6:12.
Courtney Lee scored 19 points to lead Western Kentucky.
No. 19 Southern Illinois 63, Chattanooga 41
At Anaheim, Calif., Randal Falker scored 21 points and Southern Illinois dominated the second half in a victory over Chattanooga in the opening round of the Anaheim Classic.
Bryan Mullins added 10 points for the Salukis, who reached the final 16 of the NCAA tournament last season. Falker and Mullins are among three returning starters from that team.
Southern Illinois (2-0) advanced to Friday’s game against Mississippi State, which beat UC Irvine 68-53.
The Mocs (1-2) will play Irvine on Friday.
Stephen McDowell was the only player in double figures with 13 for Chattanooga, which fell to 2-12 on a neutral court against ranked opponents.
Southern California 60,
San Diego 50
At Anaheim, Calif., O.J. Mayo and Taj Gibson scored 20 points each and Southern California held off scrappy San Diego 60-50 in a first-round game of the new Anaheim Classic on Thursday night.
Mayo scored seven straight points in a game-ending 11-6 run that helped the Trojans (3-1) advance to Friday’s game against Miami of Ohio, which beat South Alabama 64-59.
San Diego (2-3) will play South Alabama. Brandon Johnson led the Toreros with 19 points while playing all 40 minutes.
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