Freshman Shine as Mason Routs Brown

By Connect2Mason Blogger Ryan Kish.

It was a great night. Not just because Mason won big but because they have a new mascot. Who apparently doesn't have a name yet, and Mason is opening it up to suggestions. Really a work of art compared to his predecessor.

Now about the game. Mason took control early, creating steals and opportunities for their guards. Darryl Monroe was big in the low post but not needed much. John Vaughan (18pts), Dre Smith, and even big Vlad shot the ball well from behind the arc. Even walk-on Jimmy Nolan nailed a three-pointer. But the most exciting thing to watch was freshman Mike Morrison (15 pts), who like Ryan Pearson on Saturday looked very comfortable for a freshman forward. Morrison is long, very long; and can move well for his size. It was encouraging to see Vlad and Birdsong play well after a poor showing in Vermont. But really the difference in talent level from the new freshmen and the current role players on Mason is already starting to show. Mike Morrison's emphatic dunk on a pass from Andre Cornelius is a sign of things to come. It is really going to be exciting seeing this kind of young talent play against the CAA's best. I can't wait.