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Mustangs Top Madison, Sit Atop Bull Run District

Teams combine for 17 3-pointers in back and forth game.

George Mason shot early and often from beyond the arch in a revenge match against visiting Madison County, beating the Mountaineers 65-52.

Led by senior swingman Philippe Griffiths, the Mustangs sunk 11 3-pointers in the game. Griffiths, who made three of the teams five first quarter 3-pointers, finished the game with five triples. After a hot performance in the first quarter, Griffiths went cold before heating up again in the final quarter.

“I was feeling my shot but I wasn’t getting the bounce,” Griffiths said. “On our team if you’re open you shoot it.”

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Mason improved to 12-3 on the season and 7-1 in the Bull Run District Wednesday, edging William Monroe out for the top spot. The Mustangs travel to district rival Clarke County Friday for another Bull Run District game.

Head Coach Chris Capannola said he wasn’t worried about his team struggling to get shots to fall midways the game. He said shooters go through spells when every shot doesn’t fall. The Mustangs need to work the ball down low to Nate Ogle (19-points, two 3-pointers) more, Capannola said, to keep momentum going.

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“It’s what happens to shooters,” Capannola said about his teams shooting. “I told them you have to keep shooting.”

Early in the fourth quarter, Griffiths heated up again and completed a four-point play. Seconds later, he made his fifth triple of the game. He finished with a game high 20-points.

“If I’m feeling good when the first one goes in, that helps my confidence,” Griffiths said.

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Griffiths led all scores with 20-points (five 3-pointers). Ogle scored 19-points in the games, making two triples. Eion Oosterbaan scored 11-points making three triples. Senior guard Noel Obusan scored 10-points. Obusan said the Mustangs needed the win because “if we loss, we couldn’t have been first in the Bull Run.”


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