If it wasn’t the worst game of his career, it was close — 10 misses on 12 shots, four points, one rebound and no assists in 38 minutes. Something was wrong with George Mason guard Cam Long. So after the 75-60 loss to Virginia Commonwealth in the 2010 CAA quarterfinals, Long bolted.
And why not? It was spring break. Just one problem: The basketball season wasn’t over. As the team prepared for the CIT tournament, they did so without Long, who was nowhere to be found. Phone messages from Jim Larranaga went unreturned, so the coach had little choice but to suspend his best player and leader.
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George Mason’s 101-96 loss in overtime to Fairfield was a fitting end to a dismal finish in which the Patriots lost eight of their final 10 games, their worst stretch in 14 seasons under Larranaga.
What a difference a year makes.
When Long returned to Richmond to face VCU on Tuesday night, he was the best player on the floor in a 71-51 victory, the Patriots’ school-record 12th straight. Long had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists, but numbers can’t describe how the 6-foot-4 senior tamed the vaunted VCU press and the Rams’ rabid crowd.
Eleven months after he was nowhere to be found, it’s hard to imagine a player more connected to his team.
“His contributions are many,” VCU coach Shaka Smart said. “He’s as improved as any player in our league.”
This year, Long has been there when the Patriots most needed him.
During its current streak, all but one of George Mason’s wins have come by 14 or more points. In the exception, 75-73 at James Madison, the Patriots prevailed because Long had the best game of his career — 30 points on 8-for-9 shooting.
Playing well in a hostile gym is a recurring theme for Long. Of the 10 times he has scored 20 or more points in a CAA game, nine have been on the road.
“Last year he was trying to lead a young group. We had seven freshmen,” Larranaga said. “He took it personal — like ‘I’m not doing my job as a leader.’ I told him the best thing he can do is play well.”
