NORFOLK, VA (Feb. 21, 2001) -- The Old Dominion men's basketball team held off a late surge by the Patriots this evening to take a 78-70 win and deliver head coach Jeff Capel his 200th career victory. The Monarchs improve to 12-15, 7-7 CAA, snapping their three game losing streak in the process. The Patriots drop to 16-10, 11-4 CAA.

After dueling to a 34-28 halftime lead, the Monarchs went on a 19-3 run in the opening minutes of the second half to increase the margin to 53-31. George Mason didn't fold however, and went on a run of their own as guard Erik Herring and forward Jon Larranaga brought the Patriots back from the 22 point deficit. Mason continued to whittle away at the lead, cutting it to 5 at one point, but timely free throw shooting from Monarch forwards Andre McCullum and Ricardo Marsh sealed the victory for Old Dominion. The win improves Old Dominion to 6-0 in the fieldhouse this year.

Patriot forward George Evans, the two-time CAA player of the year, was held to nine points and seven rebounds. The Patriots were led by guard Erik Herring's 27 points and forward Jon Larranaga's 13 points and five rebounds.

The Monarchs finished the game with four players in double figures. Senior center Clifton Jones finished with 13 points and 13 boards and guard Rasheed Wright finished with 18 points.

Old Dominion shot .617 for the game and .720 from the free throw line.

George Mason finished the game shooting .426, but only .219 from three-point range. The Patriots put up 32 three point shots, but connected on just seven of them.

The Monarchs will return to action on Saturday, February 24, when they travel to CAA foe Virginia Commonwealth.