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FAIRFAX, Virginia (Ticker) -- Jameer Nelson netted 28 points as St. Joseph's built a big second-half lead and held on to defeat George Mason in an opening-round encounter in the National Invitation Tournament, 73-64. St. Joseph's led at halftime, 41-33, and built its advantage to 58-40 on a pair of free throws by freshman Delonte West with 12:41 remaining. But George Mason went on a 13-0 run punctuated by a 3-pointer by Rob Anderson with 7:27 left to get within 58-53. But Bill Phillips countered with a layup and Nelson hit a jumper, and George Mason got no closer than six points thereafter. "We established an interior game and then for some reason we got away from it," Patriots coach Jim Larranaga. "When you get away from it like we did, you better make your shots because, otherwise, they will get fast-break baskets." Nelson finished 7-of-12 from the field and 11-of-12 from the line -- all down the stretch -- for St. Joseph's, which shot 94 percent from the stripe (16-of-17). Marvin O'Connor had 14 points, six rebounds and five assists and Phillips added 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Hawks (19-11), who outrebounded the Patriots, 42-34. Jon Larranaga registered 22 points and Jesse Young chipped in 18 for George Mason (19-10), which shot just 37 percent (22-of-60) and allowed St. Joseph's to convert 44 percent (26-of-59). "They've got a (heck) of a coach, they execute, and Young is as good as they get," Hawks coach Phil Martelli. "They seem to have the ingredients, particularly in this building (where the Patriots were 11-3 this season). You don't go to Mississippi and win there if you're chump change." After Larranaga tied the game at 24-24 on a 3-pointer with 8 1/2 minutes to go in the first half, St. Joseph's went on a 12-2 run that was capped by a layup by Phillips with 5:15 left. Nelson had back-to-back 3-pointers during the burst. St. Joseph's plays at Ball State, a 98-92 winner over South Florida, in the first round. |
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