Playing without starting center Derrick Goode, Towson's men's basketball team suffered inside during last night's 74-57 loss to George Mason in a Colonial Athletic Association game.
Leading his team with 17 points, former Aberdeen standout Jai Lewis provided much of the punch inside for the Patriots (14-6, 7-4 CAA), who easily dispatched the Tigers (6-14, 3-8).
"If we get the ball [inside], there's no stopping me," said Lewis, a power forward who scored 12 points in the second half, made five of eight shots overall and connected on all seven of his free-throw attempts.
Goode (Archbishop Spalding), a 7-footer who had averaged 11.5 points over the previous four games and served as a bulwark in the middle against decent frontcourts, sat out to rest a strained calf.
Towson coach Michael Hunt lamented Goode's absence after his team's fifth straight loss, though the junior might return Saturday against Delaware.
"He's our best low-post scorer and his abilities opened the floor for Mike Lewis and Jamaal Gilchrist to create and score," said Hunt, whose team made only 30 percent of its first-half shots.
The inside game also suffered on defense. The Patriots shot 53.3 percent for the game and made 19 of 24 free throws, compared to 38.3 percent and nine free throws for the Tigers.
Three other Patriots scored in double figures, with Lamar Butler at 14 points, Mark Davis at 13 and Raoul Heinen at 12.
Towson was led by forward Lawrence Hamm, who scored 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting. Winstonn Tubbs added eight points and three rebounds and Holden Plack scored six points with a team-high six rebounds.
The Patriots went on a 16-2 spurt to take a 22-8 lead with 11:47 left in the first half. The Patriots had a 33-21 lead at halftime.
Guard Mark Davis led the Patriots on their first-half spurt, scoring nine points during the first nine minutes.
After Towson cut the deficit to 35-26 two minutes into the second half, the Patriots went on a 15-2 run to take a 50-28 lead with 14:31 left. The Tigers never got closer than 17 points the rest of the way.
George Mason also forced 18 turnovers and converted them into 36 points.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
GEORGE MASON - Heinen 4-8, 3-4 12, Davis 6-12, 0-0 13, Wurtz 2-2 2-2 7, Lewis 5-8 7-7 17, Butler 4-8 3-4 14, Konate 0-0 0-0 0, Norwood 0-1 0-0 0, Tynes 0-0 0-0 0, Urbina 0-1 0-0 0, Burns 1-3 3-5 4, Mickens 2-2 3-5 7, Cooper 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-45 19-24 74. TOWSON - Hamm 5-8 2-2 12, Petkunas 2-4 0-0 4, Dixon 1-3 2-2 4, Green 2-9 0-0 5, Glichrist 2-8 0-0 5, Jackson 3-6 0-0 6, Tubbs 3-7 2-2 8, Pease 2-8 2-3 7, Plack 3-7, 0-0 6. Totals 23-60 8-9 57. Half -George Mason, 33-21. 3-point goals-George Mason 7-18 (Butler 3-7, Wurtz 1-1 Davis 1-2, Heinen 1-4, Burns 1-3), Towson 3-17 (Green 1-3, Pease 1-4, Gilchrist 1-6). Fouled out-Dixon. Rebounds-George Mason 34 (Lewis 6, Butler 6), Towson 28 (Plack 6). Assists-George Mason 19 (Norwood 9), Towson 16 (Gilchrist 5). Total fouls-George Mason 17, Towson 20. A-788.