ECU Win Streak Snapped by George Mason
December 19, 2002 | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- East Carolina suffered its first loss of the season on Thursday night, falling to George Mason 66-56. GMU senior Jon Larranaga scored a career high 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from the three point arch.
The Patriots (4-3) shot 47 percent from the floor, becoming the first team to shoot better than 40 percent against the Pirates this season.
George Mason jumped out to an early 14-7 lead during the first five minutes of the game behind consecutive field goals by Larranaga. The Pirates quickly regained the lead at 15-14 with an eight-point, two and half minute barrage of jumpers.
ECU junior guard Derrick Wiley scored six of his career high 27 points during the Pirates 8-0 run. From that moment until the 3:50 left in the half the Pirates led the Patriots. Back-to-back three pointers by Larranaga gave the Patriots a one-point half time lead at 31-30.
The Pirates started the second-half with a seven-foot jumper from Gabriel Mikulas and a slam-dunk from Moussa Badiane that got the crowd on its feet. However, at the 15-minute mark, the Patriots Raoul Heinen's lay up gave the Patriots a lead, which they would never relinquish.
With 7:49 remaining in the game, Larranaga hit a baseline jumper that put the Patriots up by five, a deficit that the Pirates could never recover from.
Badiane had six points for the Pirates and three blocked shots on the night. Adding to his career total, which now stands at 112. Derrick Wiley finished 11-for-18 from the field and 3-for-5 from the three-point line. Gabriel Mikulas grabbed 12 rebounds in the Pirate loss.
The Patriots got 13 points from Raoul Heinen and 10 points from Mark Davis.
East Carolina returns to action against Campbell on Saturday, Dec. 21 in Fayetteville. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum.
Postgame Notes
