WASHINGTON, March 24 (UPI) -- Tony Skinn paced George Mason to a quick start Friday night and the Patriots coasted to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight by downing Wichita State, 63-55.
In a meeting of surprise regional semifinalists, George Mason scored the game's first nine points and the Shockers could never recover.
The Patriots (26-7) made seven of 11 three-point attempts in the first half, and an eight-point run late in the period gave them a 35-19 advantage at the break. Wichita State (26-9) could make only limited second-half runs as George Mason limited the Shockers to 27 percent shooting from the field.
Wichita State came no closer than seven points in the second half.
Skinn scored 12 of his 14 points in the first period while Folarin Campbell scored 16 for the Patriots. Wichita State was led by Paul Miller with 16.
Having moved within one win of the Final Four, George Mason will have the home-court edge in the regional finals on Sunday. The Patriots' campus is just 20 miles away in Fairfax, Va.
