Face-Off Between the CAA’s Two Biggest Stars

By Connect Mason Reporter Matt Molina

With two evenly matched, well-coached powerhouses of the CAA colliding on Tuesday night, the game came down to just one deciding question:

Which team’s super-star would take over the game and steal the victory in this crucial conference showdown?

The tale of the tape with this heavyweight fight brought us Eric Maynor, the Preseason CAA player of the Year vs. Will Thomas, a member of the Preseason First-Team All CAA. Both highly regarded players came into this game with incredibly impressive credentials.

Maynor, averaging 18.3 points per game, single-handedly shattered GMU’s dreams of heading back to the NCAA tournament last year when he took over the CAA tournament championship game vs. Mason with some late game heroics. He then led his team to a first round upset win over Duke in the NCAA tournament. He’s already been named CAA player of the week twice this year while leading his team to first place in the CAA with an 8-2 conference record.

Thomas, one of the integral members of the Final Four team in 2006 is averaging 15.8 points per game this season along with 10 rebounds. He’s also been named CAA player of the week twice this year en route to leading GMU to second place in the CAA with a 7-3 conference record.

However, just like any other anticipated heavyweight prize fight between two superstars, you’re never guaranteed a Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier toe-to-toe slugfest.

Sometimes you get a Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson beat-down.

The showdown of the two stars on Tuesday night, the only time these two players will meet during the regular season, was completely dominated by Will Thomas. It was the type of domination that might have the coaches, sports information directors and members of the media in the CAA who voted Maynor, and not Thomas, as the Preseason CAA player of the year feeling about as smart as Britney Spears’ PR agent.

Thomas scored a game-high 21 points to go along with his 15 rebounds while missing just one shot from the field. During several crucial stages late in the second half of the game when VCU was threatening, Thomas threw down two Shaq-like dunks that sent the 7,917 fans at the Patriot Center into chaos. As usual, Thomas ignited the crowd and his team into a strong second half that catapulted the Patriots to a huge 63-51 win that brought them within one game of first place in the CAA.

Throughout the game, Thomas also played the same type of intimidating defense that has earned him a selection to the CAA All-Defensive team the past two years. After this season, he’s expected to become just the second player in Mason history to be named to the All-Defensive team three times. George Evans is the only Mason player to accomplish that feat so far.

“He can tell you what the point guard position is supposed to do, he knows every player, he knows not only our offenses, but he knows the opponents’ offense," said George Mason coach Jim Larranaga in response to Thomas’ game. "When you’re that smart and you know how to apply your intelligence to the game, it makes the game so much fun and so much fun to watch a guy like that. When he gets double teamed, he finds the open man, you play him on the high side, he goes to the baseline, you play him on the low side he goes to his jump hook. He just has a wonderful feel for the game of basketball and it’s an absolute pleasure to coach him.”

On the other hand, Eric Maynor scored just 12 points in the game, shooting 40 percent from the field with 5 rebounds and 2 assists. He also committed 5 critical turnovers throughout the game.

Despite opening the game with 9 quick points, Maynor never got into any type of rhythm. He scored just 3 points in the second half which left his team looking lost at times on the offensive side.

Although this will be the only time these two players meet during the regular season, it’s certainly possible Maynor will get another chance in the CAA tournament, which would be the final and most important chapter of the Thomas vs. Maynor rivalry.

It’s also entirely possible that Eric Maynor could make up for this game with a spectacular second half of the season which could outshine Thomas and earn himself CAA Player of the Year honors.

As for now, head-to-head match-ups speak volumes, and Will Thomas and the Patriots have spoken.