Butler, Skinn combine for 41 points in GMU victory
 Carolyn Walser / senior photographer
Junior guard John Naparlo leans in for a shot against George Mason University Saturday night.
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Despite containing center Jai Lewis, the George Mason University guard
tandem of Tony Skinn and Lamar Butler lit up the Convocation Center floor
against the Dukes Saturday night en route to a 77-58 GMU victory.
The Dukes were hurting. Amid the absence of key players, junior forward
David Cooper and senior guard Daniel Freeman, JMU also had to go without
coach Dean Keener, because of a one-game suspension.
Chris Clarke, a walk-on sophomore guard, had the responsibility of defending
Skinn, one of the top-20 scorers in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Skinn was explosive for the Patriots. He finished the game with 21 points,
shooting 50 percent from the floor. His speed and quickness made him a
threat every time he touched the ball.
"[Skinn] really helped spearhead their offense, getting into the
paint and dishing it," sophomore forward Cavell Johnson said. "He
was very effective."
By driving toward the basket all night, Skinn saw action at the foul
line. He made 12 visits to the stripe and hit eight.
Keener, watching the game from the stands, praised his defense in the
first half, but said the Dukes lacked the offene to stay with the Patriots.
JMU focused in on Lewis for much of the game, and got him into foul trouble;
however, it wasn’t enough. Despite limiting Lewis to 9 points and
10 rebounds, Skinn and Butler combined for 41 points.
Butler, who came into the contest ranked No. 3 in the conference in scoring,
shot 8 for 14 from the floor, including 4 of 8 from behind the arc.
"[Jai Lewis] is one of their big three," Keener said. "In
order to be successful, you need to contain two of those three, and obviously
we didn’t. We didn’t contain Butler or Skinn."
GMU coach Jim Larranga said, "We got Lamar Butler open more. He
played well offensively and defensively, guarding Ray Barbosa."
Barbosa, who entered the game leading JMU in scoring, was held to 3 of 11 on field goals and 1 of 5 behind the arc. He finished with 9 points.
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