(fans chanting) two weeks ago george mason traveled to led from start to finish in a win. today the two teams are in fairfax where the patriots have been nearly unbeatable in caa games. george mason and james madison duke it out next on comcast

sportsnet. well the warmest spot is the patriots center. and the campus of george mason as the patriots host the long- time rivals the dukes of james madison. welcome to caa basketball here on comcast sportsnet. we're happy to be here but they don't get a warm welcome. >> they are on a roll they are playing great defense, up tempo and since they inserted long into the spot. >> as you can see they are unbeatable in ca. a play. you mentioned because of the play of cam long. >> this he are playing off

guard. he is floating around and shooting 55% from 3 and since they moved into the 2. he is comfortable, he is a great team leader. now he has the versatility off the bounce. >> james madison coming off the two impressive victories, they have been leaning on the big man denzel bowles. >> he needs in double-doubles. 7 of the 13 games he has been in double figure and double rebounding abilities. he is great around the basket. a great passer, the most skilled offensive big guy ever to play at james madison. >> if he played all the numbers would be leading the league or amongst the leaders. george mason it is big man by committee. pearson and morrison are controlling the. back with

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>> al: a perfect place to dodge a snow storm. james madison has the big man in the middle denzel bowles and wells, curtis. white and flores and a couple of freshman for matt brady for his second year at jmu. for george mason, they run a three guard rotation and cam long and morrison pearson and cornelius. and ryan pearson. and coached by jim larranaga. 22nd overall. and time for the keys to the game. >> glenn: well, james madison billups have to defend the 3-

point game of mason. they lead the caa in conference only games, the only team shooting over 40% from 3. they have to take good shots. important they take the shoots. jmu -- i mean they have to stop in the paint. they have to force the perimeter. >> al: it will be for the visiting dukes. this. there is denzel bowles with the first touch and first bucket. >> glenn: the ability of bowles, he can play with the back to the basket. elbow to box and more versatile as the season progresses. >> al: they are patient to shooter cornelius off the mark.

rebound to bowles. here is freshman white. and flores had it for a moment. he drew back in bounds into the hands of cornelius. and cam long for 3. got it! >> glenn: that's the change that jim larranaga has made. you will see long instead of going back he is wide he can make those three point shots. and going from the 2 to the one spot has helped the game. >> al: long the reigning ca. a player of the week. the foul. and missed wednesday's game against delaware and the ham bring and starting lineup.

this is the 84th meeting it has gone the way of the patriots particularly here at the center . >> glenn: you have to watch long and back control. he can establish his position in the paint. let him get to a spot and isolate him. you have to move it around that will prevent that. >> al: the first foul with morrison took him to the hole. >> glenn: you know jim larranaga told him before the game let's go at bowles, try to get early fouls. look at the isolation. they took it right to him, bowles had his hand up you can see how it went down. it came down if he kept them

facing the ceiling he may not have gotten the foul. >> al: first of the two in and out and long has not been the only for the mason team during the winning streak over the last five games. and shooting over 59% from the field. >> glenn: you know we did that game against old dominion here and it was really the first game of the season that put together solid 40 minutes. that triggered the winning streak. >> al: and the top defense in the nation. equally hot. they are mason and 9-1 on top of the caa. that is unstoppable.

>> glenn: he is protecting the ball one thing you notice he has great hands. >> al: the second foul on bowles. , there you go two quick fouls and both of those fouls and concerned right now his top player. he comes in out of nowhere again watching and that hand came down. you have to learn to keep the hand up. you put the hand down even if it is a block it looks like a foul. >> al: ad something that he is frustrated. flores and wells in there and the block shot. and rolling the tice here. the superior big man bowles with two early personal fouls

and 16:50 to go in the first half. >> glenn: and wells has to make sure he gets open shoots. and a clean up pass. very good looking down and. >> al: curtis got the miss. white for 3. off the mark. mike morrison pearson. the miss. that was blocked in the way by flores. then the into the hands of bowls. and flores not bowls. they picked up the foul. >> glenn: flores did a good job and it did not come down on that block. >> al: bowles. body tumble. ahead of the pack. >> glenn: that was a great job defensively against bowles i which is one of the he keys by pearson who came to help out.

that was floated in. he came to the weak side to deflect that and help out. you hear about chemistry, al, you. how about on defense. >> al: muscle passing morrison. leading shot blocker on the team gets the first of the day. and cannot finish at the other end. >> a little out of control. you have to settle down a bit. you do not want to be on two speeds. cornelius was 100 miles an hour and the drive. >> al: we'll see if his son ryan pearson. no on cornelius picks up the first personal as the protects get it done offensively with 7 points and thanks to mike morrison and shot block and defefefefefefefefefefefefefefefe

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getting it done on the defensivend of the floor. >> glenn: the focal point is bowles. jmu trying to establish bowles and watch the weak side. it comes from pearson. he had no idea where he was coming from. and the least spot came to the right. got the steal. all the way to the or side of the court. deflection they lead and the basket. >> al: the easy bucket for now will get a rest on the bench as byrdsong and hancock check in. in addition you will see number 15 wright. so a couple of freshman and the only senior, louis byrdsong, a factor in the win against delaware, playing in place of pearson gets his first action

as well. louis has been inserted into the lineup as number 5. >> glenn: a nice pass from curtis penetrating. that's what he has to do for the team. find a way to get into the paint but it should be inside. >> al: bowles and keep the hand up. challenge the shot. very effectively. a won and done possession for the patriots. knocked out of bounds. any time you play defense whatever you keep your hands up. you have a less likely chance of committing a foul. great man and mason.

interesting matchup. and right now right now he is. >> al: traveling is the call. >> glenn: and duke cannot afford that. that's the third turnover. you have to play efficient ball. between injuries struggling this year. there is not a deep team you can ill afford a margin of error. >> al: a barometer of that is wells. and he is one of those guys that force the issue. he is talented. williams in many 32 another is coming in and that's easy. >> glenn: concerned about picking up another foul. and cleared him out. nice job by williams. >> al: and a graphic

illustration of why the patriots are the 15th youngest team in the country as they play 3 freshman in the lineup right now. ing to a good job with the 5- point lead. curtis, jmu senior, against wright. wright, in his grill. under 10 to shoot. louis to the hole. and to himself and finishes. , he has a great knack knowing when the ball is coming in. picks the spot. waits to explode. and stronger as looked. he looks winded to me for some reason. >> al: and that ended a four minute rout for jmu. now flores and apparently he read the body language. he will get a blow. and flores returns to the

lineup. , giving a shoutout to a guy to my right when i do the games. he he is not feeling well. i'm not used to coming here ad not seeing him. he is the president of george mason. great to see him. >> al: he enjoys the broadcast and look forward to seeing him back here soon. well, misses the shot. byrdsong ter other end to stretch the lead to 6. , great defense by james is madison. i'll say james mason and george all game. >> al: wells for the board. louis on the run with a pretty finish. he is coming off the bench.

a nice first step. he has to get to the basket the prior play and finish, that time he is under control. >> al: one under bowles scores for jmu. on wright. wright throws it away. good anticipation by curtis. nice shot. behind the arc. and pulled a trigger there. he know what he is thinking. and on the bench. and hancock. was not easy. and impressive finishes nicely. when does he grow that beard, last night? [ laughter ] >> al: a 12 o'clock shadow.

>> glenn: like curt gibson. he would grow a beer in two innings. clean shaven and then look like zz top. >> al: a foul here that will be the third on the patriots. hancock part of the great class giving george mason a boost off the bench. andys hzzy f omedtrok

>> al: mason at home 14-8 lead and this weekend kicks off the start of the coach's versus awareness weekend. and there is an initiative with the cancer society and association of basketball coaches you will see jim larranaga and staff make the staff ed. and other coaches around the country wearing basketball shoes instead of the dress shoes. and they are demonstrating their support for a vision of the world with more birthdays less cancer. they are encouraged to wear the sneakers. and gary williams is the honorary chair for the campaign. and white attacking the basket.

could not finish. inside. and bowles the rest of the duke team and the field and bowles 3 of 6. went around the back. and through the

>> glenn: and versatility and

look at this. and the offensive plan you know the ball get him out. and 13 games double-double. >> al: leading the caa in double-double. and transfer he is just playing so well shooting 58%. he is doing a nice job of giving james madison that big presence that they have and missed for so many years the big guys. and after he transferred in that in practice nobody can handle it and say that all the time. , then you see him and having

air blown at you. >> glenn: yes. james madison and changing the defense and now and. >> al: isiah and launched it and didn't find anything, someone opened up the fact of the patriots and that big time. >> al: that looked like a jump shot in chicago you have to factor in the wind. >> glenn: shoot it to the wind. >> al: and developing himself and has yet to find the range. and a shot clock violation. >> glenn: missed pearson who stepped in on the out of bounds play. get it to them. and the offense is a part of that offensive segment by jim larranaga. >> al: and 30-second time out.

didn't like the last possession. scoreless over the last three minutes. if you would like to get the latest information on ca. a sports. log into ca. a sports and get scores, news on the caa teams, ca. a sports.com. leave the rest to us. we're a diligent follower of ca. a sports. we and not right now they cannot post bowles among the rage leaders he will by march 4th. you will see the name only in the league conference in

scoring and the conference games only. hes has one more year with moore coming back and get healthy and talents like wells. and mason is in terms of the youth. it will be a great conference again next year. here is parker who hit and from the senior and a run and the shot and be within one and that's been starting to play more. what was nice about that move. he pump faked up. from ben louis, picking up the 4th point of the game. and it led to a bucket. of the game now we have a foul

called. >> glenn: any time you take the jump shots, madison exploited it by pushing the ball up. how about the reverse. watch

oor. a good job ad seeing this a he came up from behind. and kept him he did not clobber him. protected the rim. >> al: let me ask you, was it a good foul if it knowing how thin the bench is that he picked up the third on the situation. >> glenn: i like it. i still like it. and stop the basket and now it is one or maybe none. >> al: louis will sit. white the freshman from virginia returns. good for louis the energy that he has provided the team; he tid a nice job off the bench. kind of loosened up and the defense getting into the paint. >> al: pearson 1 of 2. first points of the game. and a valuable performer

averaging over 12 for the team. now 4:40 to go another whistle we see morrison a pushing foul. both sides. well back to the game. jmu in the opinion alty with cease-firen team fouls. 6 now for the patriots. kick it out. >> glenn: that shows the vision that you think about the way that bowles passing the ball. he is looking for the teammates. and a double team somebody had to be open and parker handle it. >> al: inside to morrison. over bowls cannot fish.

and down and scores. >> glenn: i tell you what and in a guy was out of position to start the season, 117th game but boy coming off. an 11 point performance. 3 of 3. >> al: he cannot get it. and tracks it down. dishes into morrison. and possession our row. advance in james madison. so, it it has been an -pbter training contest back and forth. cam long and patriots have the lead and done it with some

>> al: and defensively and

p it. there is tense.

defense from parker. >> glenn: they keep mason in the half court game they have. and when the game is up and down that's when they struggle. i like the intensity. matt brady said when his team digs in and plays defense they are efficient. >> al: beating the buzz ser cam long. >> glenn: that was a jump ball and leading with the officials on the sideline. and two points for mason. >> al: 7 points for long. 3 point advantage. parker feeling it. yes he is. back to back trays. >> glenn: he heard me. >> al: say that madison was o- 8. he nailed the next two from 3. and a tied game with two minutes, 15 seconds to go. matt brady probably lovess the pace of the game. and pearson and muscles his way in. pucks up the first field goal. took it to the rim and on his

right shoulder and kept the ball the left side of the body. didn't use it but the rim. 6 rebounds. getting more attention on the way out. and bowles off balance. the return by parker inside. and bowles actually. and denzelle bowles get as chance to it add some points to the line. >> glenn: this is a wheel and seal offense. they're trying to post him up and swing that ball around and get the defense on the shoulder. but every one is thrown in. he can the defense is coming and active inside. and. >> al: and a little off balance when he shot the first and still beat every patriot to the loose ball. >> glenn: see wells look for a

shot a bit more. to the line and unsuccessful for it remains a 2-point lead for george mason. we have 90 seconds to go in the first half. long has it. under control. you rarely see him picking up the charge. very under control. i. >> al: see why he is averaging 22 point as game over the last four for the patriots. cannot get it to go. a second chance. takes charge. nice job running the floor. a good swing. long for 3. rebound and put

back for ryan pearson. it is the tip and then an offensive rebound. >> al: brady wanted a call. he could not believe the way that bowles was run out therefore it opened things up for pearson who has come alive with the 8 rebounds for them on the offensive end. he is starting to get on track offensively as well. take another look. , there is the tip and pearson the last place at the right time. watch the hook on the arm of bowles. that's what brady was pleading for. that's great work inside by the big men. >> glenn: they're very active and they both, they play off each other very well. one guy tips it to another. right now -- right now he is trying to make sure they close the door. you do not want to keep them in. and from one guy to another.

and the offensive rebound. bound and a number of ill luminous i'll use that word, alumni. that's a guy i travel with and play by play guy of the wizards. i spend more time with than with my wife. he is proud of his school. >> al: he should be. a great program. a steal. the easy bucket. and wanted a time out to calm this. and a dead lien game and that point it is all guideline. they stretched the lead to 8. >> glenn: and defense by mason cornelius. he is doing a nice job of doing his job all over the place. that's good movement. >> al: he got it by byrdsong.

right into the hands of the stat fishon who has the great hands. and great recovery there. >> glenn: legend. you heard we mattery. and had an attack. they tid not go anywhere. and you want to go somewhere angle out. improve the angle. he stepped back and you get an open shot. .2.4 seconds left. george mason has to defend the play and over the head of defense. defensele bowles. , that was a well-timed play. and wide open. that was a slam dunk but a pass didn't get there. >> al: now to george mason with

2.4 seconds left. and the jmu alum you described. that's a gagger to end it. and cannot get it to go. the half will end on an 8-0 run. after the game was tied at 25. cam long, pearson spearheading that run in the snow here in fairfax, virginia. 84th meeting between the dukes and patriots. we head to half time. the activities ahead here on the activities ahead here on cocococococococococococococococo

>> al: the second meeting this year between the long time rivals. patriots and the dukes of james madison. the caa celebrate. brateing its anniversary. it is the leadership a--

celebrating its anniversary. recognizing his contributions in athletics. recognizing the student athlete who embody standards of sports man ship with their achievement. today's nominee from george mason is cam long a junior from florida who is a sports management major and represents james madison is pierre curtis. back with first half stats after this.

>> al: we're at half time and george mason at home trying to extend a very impressive win streak in the building looking to go for 17 straight home wins. they have a leg up on rival james madison. they have the 8-point advantage it came with an 8-0 run. how great of an impact does that have now to carry over to the second half. >> glenn: george mason wanted to go early they allowed james madison to get confidence. they have the swagger up but they put it on them at the end. they did it with defense.

they scored off. it will be interesting to see if they have the bench contribution to help out bowls. they are a thin team. >> al: and thanks to the great work dependslele bowles and wells. bowles has done a nice job of making himself available. he is a great passer and the double teams have to come earliment they will get burned. he will take it to the basket. this is an area he has improved on. he is a 3-point shooter. he goes to the basket and make sure they get some shots for him. speaking of shots, long, again, and making 3s and to the hole. down and pearson automobile to establish the position. i thought that george mason did a good job of getting to the basket. and and leads to transition

buckets. good things happen, we take a look at the stats and george mason is doing a bet. bet. better job from the field. better from behind the arc. and wells hit from that range. we'll see with the points in the paint the turnovers how james madison responds to the start of the second half. >> glenn: i mentioned matchups. this is interesting you have the strength of bowls versus the perimeter game. i don't want the fans being hard on me and they knock refuse. off vcu. i have to make sure i have them. from the grad. >> glenn: they beat b. vcu twice. >> al: second half around the corner g8g8g8g8g8g8g8g8g8g8g8g88