News aggregator

Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate

Turnovers and missed free throws cost the Patriots

BY GABRIEL KING, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mason men’s basketball fell to Central Michigan 70-69 on Wednesday at EagleBank Arena. With the loss, the Patriots finished with a 1-2 record in the Marquette Challenge. The Chippewas also finished 1-2, while event host Marquette went undefeated in three games.

After a strong start, the Patriots trailed for most of the second half. A pair of free throws from senior guard K.D. Johnson gave Mason their first lead of the second half with 5:27 remaining in the game. The Patriots extended their lead to four with 31 seconds remaining but costly turnovers led to Central Michigan’s late comeback.

The Patriots committed 15 turnovers and had more turnovers than assists for the third time this season. The Chippewas scored 19 points off Mason’s turnovers, including the game-winner.

“We’re punting the ball at a high level right now,” Head Coach Tony Skinn said. “15 turnovers [tonight], 18 turnovers [against Marquette] and 17 turnovers [against North Carolina Central].” Mason’s 61 turnovers this season are the most of any team in the Atlantic 10.

With the Patriots up by two, senior guard Jared Billups turned the ball over on an inbounds pass with 14 seconds remaining. The turnover led to Central Michigan guard Damarion Bonds’ game-winning 3-pointer with two seconds left.

“I’ve got to take some accountability there,” Skinn said. “I just knew, once he did that, the game was over. I knew they were going to make a play.”

The Patriots jumped out to a 6-0 lead after back-to-back threes from senior guard Woody Newton. Mason kept a solid lead for most of the first half before Central Michigan went on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 21. The Chippewas carried the momentum into the second half, extending their lead to as much as seven.

Senior guard Darius Maddox led the Patriots in scoring for the fourth consecutive game, scoring 15 points on 5-13 shooting. Maddox is the only Patriots averaging double figures on the season, scoring 18 points per game, and has played at least 30 minutes in three of Mason’s first four games.

While Maddox and Newton made a combined five 3-pointers, the rest of the Patriots struggled from beyond the arc, going 0-8. Mason also struggled from the free throw line, shooting 24-34. In a one-point game, the Patriots’ struggles from the charity stripe proved to be their downfall.

“Tonight we didn’t have the intensity, we weren’t intentional and, in moments, we didn’t play with any intelligence at all, emotionally and physically,” Skinn said.

Mason will look to rebound on Nov. 16 against East Carolina in Greenville, N.C. The Patriots won 81-59 last season at EagleBank Arena in the first game of their home-and-home series with the Pirates. Mason will return home on Nov. 20 for a matchup with winless Coppin State.

Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate

The Patriots handled Monmouth to set up a crucial road trip

BY GABRIEL KING, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mason women’s basketball defeated Monmouth 89-66 on Tuesday at EagleBank Arena to improve to 3-0 on the season. After three straight home wins, the Patriots will play six of their next seven games away from home.

Sophomore guard Kennedy Harris has led the way for the Patriots, averaging 14.7 points in three games and shooting 50% from the field. Against Monmouth, Harris scored a team-high 20 points and made a career-high seven free throws.

“I just took the opportunities,” Harris said. “It’s just another chance for me to score easily at the free throw line.” 

Along with Harris’ strong start, the Patriots have used a balanced attack to smother their opponents. Six Patriots are averaging at least eight points this season, including Harris, graduate student guard Ta’Viyanna Habib and graduate student forward Nalani Kaysia all averaging double figures.

“I think this year, the depth that we have, where it can be anybody’s night… I think that’s what’s going to make us really special,” Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis said.

The Patriots won their first three games by an average of 33 points, the second-best scoring margin in the Atlantic 10. Mason has been able to grow their leads with disruptive defense, as they’ve forced 72 turnovers this season, good for first in the A-10.

While Mason’s defense has been stout, the Patriots have not gone without their occasional struggles. Mason’s opponents have scored at least 20 points in three quarters, including the third and fourth quarters against Monmouth. The Hawks scored 21 points in the third quarter and 20 in the fourth to put some pressure on the Patriots. 

“I just think that there were just some lulls in our defensive commitment tonight,” Blair-Lewis said. “I think that we could definitely do better.” 

In a seven-game stretch that includes three games against power conference opponents, the Patriots will need to play stellar defense to pick up resume-building wins.

The Patriots may be without Kaysia for the road trip. The graduate student left Tuesday’s win with an undisclosed injury.

Mason’s road swing starts at Marshall University on Nov. 17 at 6:00 p.m. The Patriots defeated the Thundering Herd 84-77 at home last season. Mason will then head south for a matchup with Atlantic Coast Conference foe Wake Forest on Nov. 20 in a nationally televised game on ACC Network.

The Patriots return home on Nov. 26, hosting Blair-Lewis’ alma mater Mount St. Mary’s at 7:00 p.m. Student tickets are available through Mason360.