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Patriot Games

For William & Mary , the Cinderella story is over. For George Mason , it's time to put on the slippers again.

Led by seniors Folarin Campbell and Will Thomas , the Patriots are headed back to the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years. Last time they were there, the team made it all the way to the Final Four.

No. 3 seed George Mason never trailed Monday in a 68-59 victory in the CAA Championship game at the Richmond Coliseum. Up by one after the first half, the Patriots opened up the second half with an 11-2 run.

"We've been in this situation before," Campbell said. In the locker room at halftime, Campbell said coach Jim Larranaga told them to "play with confidence, play with heart. We went out there and hit some big shots."

Campbell led George Mason with 20 points, while Thomas had 18 points and 13 rebounds. Campbell was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while Thomas was named to the All Championship Team.

"We came here with the mindset that's it's really not about the offense … it's so important that your defense be your consistent part of your game," said Larranaga. "That's what we did for three straight games."

Early on, it looked to be a close game as senior Laimis Kisielius played inspired ball for William & Mary. Kisielius notched 15 first-half points, but was limited to just seven in the second half.

The Tribe struggled early from the field, hitting only four of its first 12 shots. But clutch three-pointers from Kisielius and sophomore David Schneider kept George Mason from pulling away early on.

For the game, however, William & Mary hit just six of 20 three-point attempts.

Larranaga said he stressed to his players the importance stopping William & Mary's three-pointers during the game.

"I told our players … 'Every guy on the William & Mary roster can shoot and make threes consistently if left open,'" Larranaga said. "We had to get our hands in their face. … We did want to challenge every three they took."

For the game, William & Mary could never get things going and shot just 38 percent from the field, while George Mason shot 49 percent.

Schneider had 12 points for the Tribe, while sophomore Danny Sumner chipped in 10.

The Tribe, the No. 5 seed, had never played in the CAA Championship game in the league's 26-season history.

Playing its fourth game in as many days, William & Mary had no more last-second miracles left. The Tribe came into the tournament losing six of its last seven regular-season games, but things began turning around for them on Friday.

In the first three tournament games, the Tribe won by scoring on their last possession against Georgia State, Old Dominion and No. 1 seed and hometown favorite Virginia Commonwealth University.

Though it was indeed a tough loss for his team, CAA Coach of the Year Tony Shaver said this season couldn't have ended any better -- short of a win tonight.

"It was a tough loss for us. I think George Mason was extremely talented and I think their experience showed a little bit tonight, but the most important thing for me to try to express is the pride I feel in this basketball team right now, particularly in our senior class," he said. "I think they have taken us into uncharted waters and I think they have created a buzz around our campus and our community that I haven't been as a part of at William & Mary and I just hope they have taken us one small step into a great direction for us."

Shaver credited George Mason's tough defense and an overall outstanding performance by Thomas with shutting down the perimeter shooting that kept William & Mary alive for most of the tournament. He also said starting the second half by getting into an early scoring deficit also affected his team's chances of getting a victory.

"That put us in a tough spot," he said. "[George Mason is] so explosive offensively we needed, if possible, to play in the lead today. Our legs weren't completely with us tonight and it is tough to come from behind in the fourth set like that. But that is no excuse for the fourth game. I told our players that we put ourselves in the position to play four games. But it was very difficult to play from behind tonight."

William & Mary's Kisielius, Schneider and Sumner were named to the All Championship Team.

For Schneider, the total experience this weekend made Monday's effort worth it.

"It has been a unique ride," he said. "It's been a once in a lifetime opportunity to go this far, especially for Laimis and all of the phenomenal seniors. I feel like we left it out there and that is how I feel that we really needed to do."

This is the fourth time George Mason has won the CAA tournament, and the first time since 2001.

The Patriots receive at automatic berth to the NCAA tournament, which gets under way next week. The NCAA makes its selections for the 65-team field on Sunday, March 16.

After the game Larranaga issued a "Thank you" to the Patriots' fans as they shouted, "Six more games, six more games" in reference to what they need to do to win an NCAA title.

Note: VCU's Eric Maynor was named to the All Championship Team.

w Hoopin' at the CAA 2008 CAA Basketball Tournament : Our RBlog takes you on a journey through the tournament.

w First round action : Northeastern, Delaware, William & Mary and Towson capture wins on day one.

w VCU takes on Towson : Highlights of Saturday's first quarterfinal matchup.

w Quarterfinal action : William & Mary, UNC Wilmington and George Mason advance.

w CAA shocker : William & Mary beats No. 1 VCU.

w   Patriots roll : George Mason advances to finals with win over UNC Wilmington.