#ToBeFrank: Mason Falls at Dayton

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Daniel Frank
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Welcome to #ToBeFrank: Daniel Frank’s hot takes, analysis and recap of today’s Mason game.

Well, that was something. I know I say this alot, but I genuinely don’t know how to feel after today’s game. Should I be angry, depressed, or encouraged? At least I’m not apathetic. Although they lost, I give Mason this today: they had FIGHT in them today.

They did not start the game well today at all.

Despite having only seven scholarship players, Dayton basically was hitting whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. Jalen Crutcher had himself a first half, going 6/6 from the field and 2/2 from three. Their largest lead of the night was late in the first half, when Dayton’s lead was stretched to 32-14.

But then Tyler Kolek starting getting shots to fall.

The Patriots quietly chipped away, cutting their halftime deficit to just nine, which was a hell of a lot better than I expected, given how the half went.

Mason started the second half ON FREAKING FIRE. Everything they shot went in (maybe it was the rims?) and they looked confident.

Mason ran off a 15-0 run to pull in front by four!

A good chunk of the second half was battling back and forth, but Mason was able to remain in front for almost all of it. What really helped is they were hitting shots. For every one Dayton made, they had an answer for.

Even more impressive, their full-court press really disrupted the Flyers. Paulsen ever had the Patriots switch to a box-and-1 defense, and it was extremely effective in slowing down Jalen Crutcher.

But come crunch time, Dayton’s experience showed- even if only three of their players were upperclassmen. The Flyers slowed the game WAY down, and it totally threw Mason off their game. You could tell, in hindsight. The game just…slipped away.

Mason went a little cold from the field while Jalen Crutcher made plays, flat out. So did Ibi Watson. This and-1 basically sealed Mason’s fate.

Now we get to the fun part. There were some questionable calls in the final 30 seconds that perhaps had some outcome on the game. Even some Dayton writers took notice…

One way or another, it ended with DP getting T’d up twice in the final 15 seconds. There was a vast array of reactions to the end of the game:

Was it a phantom call that Ibi Watson drew with 22.1 left in the game? Most certainly. Was Mason likely still going to lose regardless of the call the referees make? Yeah probably. This wasn’t like the end of the UMass game. Mason had been stagnant on offense for a good bit at that point. Dayton ended the game on an 11-2 run, which yes, was impacted by the fouling at the end plus the four technical foul free throws. But at the end of the day, I think Mason ran out of gas digging themselves out of that 18 point hole and Dayton just had too much experience and will to lose a second consecutive A-10 game.

Like I said at the top, I’m still not sure what to feel right now. Mason just ran out of gas, the refs didn’t have much to do with that. I don’t hate DP going and getting himself tosses if it fires up the team moving forward. They’re going to have a good amount of time to sit on this loss, since their game on Wednesday against VCU is almost certainly canceled due to COVID protocol. Richmond at home on Saturday becomes their next game, unless there is some A-10 shuffling around of games, which is possible.

I guess if the last two games are indications that Mason can be competitive in the A-10 this year, I’m ok with it. I fear its fools gold though. I guess my overall reaction to this game will be determined by what happens next? Can Mason build off these past two games, or do they fall back into their old patterns? Are we seeing a DP team finally come into their own, forging an identity, or are these last two games an anomaly? If the past few days have proven anything, it’s that the Atlantic 10 is WIDE open this year, at least below Saint Louis. Mason is currently in an EIGHT-WAY TIE for fourth place at 1-1 (along with Richmond, Dayton, Davidson, Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure, George Washington, and UMass). This year is still Mason’s to do with as they please. It’s up to them what they do with it.

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