VCU Athletics-Men's Basketball

AMAZING COMEBACK BY RAMS FALLS JUST SHORT AS GEORGE MASON ESCAPES UPSET WITH 87-86 OT WIN
2-16-00
Game Box
Virginia Commonwealth overcame its biggest halftime deficit of the season to force overtime, but was unable to pull out the victory as George Mason survived to take an 87-86 victory on Wednesday night at the Patriot Center. It was the first overtime loss for the Rams this season.

Sophomore forward Shawn Hampton (Baltimore, Md.) led the Virginia Commonwealth with a game-high 23 points and also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Three other Rams finished in double figures, including junior guard Bo Jones (Richmond, Va.), who tallied 19 points. The Patriots were led by George Evans, who scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Virginia Commonwealth got behind early, as George Mason shot out to a 9-2 lead, but the Rams ran off seven straight points to tie the game. The Patriots then went on a 20-2 run and went into the locker room with what appeared to be a very comfortable 50-26 lead. George Mason was aided in the opening period by an impressive 21-of-33 (63.6 percent) from the field, including hitting five of six attempts from three point range.

For much of the second half, it looked as though the Patriots would be able to coast to victory, as their lead was in double digits for most of the final period. But Virginia Commonwealth put together a 12-2 run to shave the lead to nine points, 71-62, with just under six minutes left in regulation. The Rams would hold the Patriots scoreless for nearly three more minutes and went on top 72-71 for their first lead of the game with 2:40 on the clock.

George Mason regrouped and led 75-72 when Jones hit a three-pointer to tie the game with just under 18 seconds remaining. The Patriots went back on top after hitting a jumper with 6.5 seconds remaining, but sophomore forward Reggie Okosa (Claymont, Del.) hit two free throws for the Rams with no time on the clock to force the extra frame.

In the overtime, George Mason scored the first five points, but could not turn Virginia Commonwealth away. With the Patriots leading 86-81, Jones hit a jumper, then the Rams got the ball back and tied the score again on a three-pointer by Scott Lilly (Charlotte, N.C.). But George Mason hit a free throw with 12 seconds remaining to avoid the upset.

The loss, which snaps a five-game win streak in overtime contests for Virginia Commonwealth, drops the Rams to 11-12 overall and 4-8 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while George Mason now stands at 16-9 on the season with a 10-3 mark in conference action. Virginia Commonwealth stays on the road for its next contest, traveling to East Carolina on Saturday. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.

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