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ODU Upset In CAA Semifinals By George Mason

ODU Upset In CAA Semifinals By George MasonODU Upset In CAA Semifinals By George Mason

March 4, 2007

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Dre Smith scored 19 points and surging George Mason took a 22-point lead early in the second half and made it stand up Sunday to upset Old Dominion 79-63 and advance to the Colonial Athletic Association championship game.

The Patriots (18-14), lacking the resume they had in earning the at-large NCAA tournament berth last season that made their amazing run to the Final Four possible, beat third-seeded Hofstra in the quarterfinals before taking out the No. 2 Monarchs.

The Patriots will play regular-season champion Virginia Commonwealth in the championship on Monday night, with the winner earning an NCAA tournament berth.

Old Dominion (24-8), which had swept the season series from the Patriots, missed 30 of its first 40 shots and joins Drexel in hoping the league's enhanced reputation earns it at-large consideration. Drexel lost to the Rams in the other semifinal, 63-56.

Folarin Campbell added 18 points for the Patriots, including seven in a row late in the game after the Monarchs made 9 of 12 shots to threaten to make a game of it.

Drew Williamson led Old Dominion with 16 points and Valdas Vasylius had 13.

George Mason led 35-20 at halftime and opened the second half with an 8-1 run as Old Dominion missed its first five shots, leaving it 8-for-34 from the field overall.

Not until the Monarchs stopped shooting 3-pointers - they had missed 12 of 13 - and started driving to the basket did they begin to mount a rally. Making 9 of 12 at one point, they closed to within 61-49 with 4:38 to play, but could get no closer.

George Mason shot 58 percent while Old Dominion finished at 35 percent.

The Patriots came out red hot, making 9 of their first 11 shots and taking a 21-8 lead. They hardly cooled off, either, finishing the half 15-for-26 and leading 35-20.

Smith led the Patriots' early barrage, scoring 14 points before halftime.