Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 24, 1991 TAG: 9102240230
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FAIRFAX LENGTH: Medium
James Madison (19-8 overall, 12-2 in the CAA) clinched its second consecutive regular-season conference title and will meet eighth-seeded Navy in the opening round of the conference tournament in Richmond next weekend.
The Patriots (12-15, 8-6) finished fourth in the CAA and will play North Carolina-Wilmington in the first round of the tournament.
George Mason took the lead at 74-73 with five seconds remaining when Byron Tucker made one of two free throws. The Patriots had led by 11 points in the second half.
Trailing 57-47 with 15:47 remaining, James Madison went on a 14-5 run to cut the deficit to 62-61 with 9:14 left to play. Steve Hood put the Dukes in front with a baseline jumper 45 seconds later, but the lead changed hands three times in the next 1:41.
Hood led James Madison with 27 points, and Nichols added 13.
Byron Tucker paced George Mason with 25 points - 19 in the first half. Robert Dykes, playing the final home game of his career, had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Mike Hargett and Mitch Madden had 13 points apiece.
JAMES MADISON (75)
Coles 2-7 5-6 9, Nichols 6-9 1-2 13, Chambers 4-9 1-1 9, Irvin 2-7 4-5 8, Hood 10-17 6-8 27, Brooks 0-0 0-0 0, Brown 1-2 1-2 5, Bostic 0-0 0-0 0, Fedor 1-1 4-5 6, Ritter 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-52 22-29 75. GEORGE MASON (74)
Tucker 7-11 11-14 25, Dykes 8-13 11-12 27, Abrams 0-1 0-0 0, Hargett 4-14 4-6 13, Moran 0-0 0-0 0, Perkins 2-7 0-0 0, Madden 6-8 1-2 13, Johnson 1-2 0-0 0, Arthur 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-51 21-29 74.
Halftime-45-41, George Mason. Three-point goals-James Madison 1-3 (Hood 1-3), George Mason 1-8 (Hargett 1-8). Fouled out-Brown, Perkins. Rebounds-James Madison 27 (Nichols 8), George Mason 34 (Tucker 12). Assists-James Madison 11 (Fedor 4), George Mason 10 (Hargett 3). Total fouls-James Madison 21, George Mason 23. A-7,816.
by CNB