Nov. 11, 2006

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CLEVELAND (AP) - Gary Waters' Cleveland State debut was spoiled by a career-high 25 points from Will Thomas as George Mason, last season's Final Four surprise squad, rallied for a 79-74 victory over the Vikings in the season-opener for both squads.

Thomas, one of two starters back from the Patriots' team that shocked some of college basketball's big boys during a magical NCAA tournament run in March, added 10 rebounds and helped George Mason overcome a 16-point, first-half deficit.

The Patriots shot 73 percent (19-of-26) from the floor after halftime, hitting four consecutive 3-pointers - the last by Jordan Carter - to take a 68-67 lead with 4:40 remaining.

George Mason then employed a 2-3 zone defense that coach Jim Larranaga rarely has his team practice to take away Cleveland State's outside game in the final minutes.

John Vaughn added 18 points, Folarin Campbell 14 and Darryl Monroe, a 6-foot-7, 260-pound junior college transfer, had 14 points - all in the second half - for George Mason.

J'Nathan Bullock scored 22 points and freshman Joe Davis 19 to lead Cleveland State, playing its first game under coach Gary Waters. He left Rutgers after four seasons and is trying to turn around a program that hasn't been to the NCAA tourney in 20 years.

Playing on a much smaller stage than they enjoyed in March, the Patriots played sloppily for 30 minutes before using some of the tournament experience they gained last season to put away the Vikings.

Taking advantage of its size, George Mason pounded the ball inside to Thomas and Monroe in the second half. Still, Cleveland State was within three at 74-71 with 35.6 seconds to go when Victor Morris made two free throws.

Campbell then missed a free throw with 20.1 seconds left, and Cleveland State's Bullock grabbed the rebound underneath before it was poked away by Patriots guard Gabe Norwood. Vaughn made two free throws and after a Cleveland State miss, Carter made one to put George Mason ahead 77-71.

Davis' fifth 3-pointer got the Vikings within three, but Campbell made two free throws to ice it for George Mason.

For most of the first half, the Patriots looked nothing like the team who after barely making the NCAAs beat Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State and Connecticut before losing in the Final Four loss to eventual champion Florida.

Just 3 minutes in, George Mason had five turnovers and the Patriots fell trailed 23-18 before reeling off six straight points. However, Davis drained consecutive 3s and the Vikings went on a 14-2 run, building a 39-23 lead on Bullock's layup.

But the Patriots, finally playing with some care and confidence, broke off a 9-2 spurt to pull to 41-32 at halftime.