Feb. 16, 2005
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - Lamar Butler scored 25 points and Tony Skinn added 22 tolead George Mason to a 74-58 victory over Old Dominion on Wednesday night,ending the Monarchs' five-game winning streak.
Colonial Athletic Association leader Old Dominion (23-4, 13-2) entered thegame with the fifth-best winning percentage this season in Division I at .885.The Monarchs' other conference loss was a 75-71 setback Jan. 29 at VirginiaCommonwealth.
Butler and Jai Lewis, who finished with nine points and six rebounds, botheclipsed the 1,000-point career scoring mark for George Mason (15-10, 10-6).Folarin Campbell added eight points and seven rebounds for the Patriots.
Butler, who was 6-for-9 on 3-pointers, gave George Mason a 55-43 lead on a3-pointer with 8:21 remaining. He later made 3-pointers to give the Patriotsleads of 62-45 and 72-50.
Arnaud Dahi, who picked up his third foul early in the second half andplayed only 20 minutes, led Old Dominion with 14 points and six rebounds. AlexLoughton had 10 points and nine rebounds for the Monarchs.
After John Thomas' jumper pulled Old Dominion within five at 48-43, thePatriots answered with a 9-0 run, capped by Campbell's reverse layup for a57-43 lead with 7:45 left.
Skinn scored 14 points in the first half and the Patriots led 37-24 at thebreak.