Mason tumbles in Richmond to VCU, again

In what is essentially a home tournament every year for the VCU Rams in the Richmond Coliseum, they once again took down the George Mason Patriots, making that three consecutive years in which the Rams eliminated the Patriots in the in the CAA Tournament.

Mike Morrison was the best player on the court for Mason in the loss.

This years' version got off to an embarrassing start for Mason, to say the least. The Rams jumped out to an early 30-4 lead and later led 41-13 in the first half. That's a 28 point differential! Somehow, Mason actually cut it to just six points on two occasions in the second half before falling 74-64, at least making the final margin respectable.

In what is, without question, the best rivalry in the CAA, it just seems that VCU has Mason's number in March.

One year ago, the two teams met just once during the regular season, as the Patriots took down the Rams in Richmond just one week before the CAA Tournament. Yet, it was the Rams who won in the Coliseum. This year, the two teams split during the regular season, each winning on their home floor, and, once again, the Rams dominated the matchup in the Coliseum.

Whether it is in the heads of these Mason players, whether it is the overly VCU-favored fans, or maybe a combination of the two, the Patriots just can't get past VCU when it matters. The Patriots last won the Tournament back in 2008, before falling to VCU every year since.

Not only did the loss for Mason essentially eliminate them from even the hope of making the NIT, but it gave VCU a boost in their chances of making the NCAA Tournament as an at-large bid. And the only thing GMU fans hate as much as Mason losing is VCU winning.