Allen's last-second layup lifts Patriots over Boston University in sloppy 48-45 win

Junior guard Bryon Allen's layup hangs on the rim before dropping for a Mason win. (Photo courtesy of Mason Athletics.)

The George Mason University Patriots pulled off a 48-45 come-from-behind victory over the Boston University Terriers on Saturday at the Patriot Center.

Junior guard Bryon Allen scored three of his seven total points with 0.2 seconds remaining in the game and the score tied at 45. Allen hit a last second acrobatic layup while drawing a foul, sending him to the line for an additional point opportunity.

Mason (4-2) ended the game on a 9-0 run to pull off the win, despite finishing with the lowest point total of any game they have played this season. 

“I was baffled by the whole game,” said Mason coach Paul Hewitt. “We weren’t ready to compete, and they [Boston University] were ready to compete and it showed.”

Mason outscored the Terriers 10 to five in the final six minutes of the game. BU had their largest lead over Mason, 45-39, with 3:32 left to play in the second half. After a layup by Marko Gujanicic and a jumper by Allen with 2:16 left to play, BU’s lead dwindled to two. Gujanicic hit two additional free throws to tie the game 45-45.

Mason got the ball back after a turnover committed by BU’s starting freshman guard Maurice Watson Jr. with 13 seconds remaining and the score tied 45-45. Watson Jr. had 3 total turnovers in the game. Allen then went on a 3-point run to ultimately win the game for the Patriots.

BU came in averaging 10 turnovers a game, and Mason came in averaging 13.4. On Saturday each team had 16 total turnovers in the game, which was a season high for BU.

The sloppiness did not stop there. BU shot below 30 percent from the field, while Mason shot 36.4 percent hitting 20-55 FG and only 2-16 three-pointers.

“It was a tough win, but we pulled through,” said forward Johnny Williams. Williams, with 10 points, was the only player in double digits for the Patriots.

The combined presence of Erik Copes and Williams underneath limited BU to just 16 points in the paint and allowed only three second-chance points. Copes finished with a game-high three blocks. The Terriers’ forward, Dom Morris, led his team with 10 rebounds. Sherrod Wright was the top rebounder of the day for Mason with 9.

Because of Mason’s strong presence inside, BU resigned to shooting behind the arc, making only seven of 26 three-pointers attempted.  

“We’re not playing to the best potential that I know we can play at,” said Allen. “Boston’s a great team, but I feel like we should’ve won by more. But, a win’s a win.”