King McClure scored 27 points as Baylor defeated George Mason 72-61 in the third-place game of the Emerald Coast Classic on Saturday at The Arena in Niceville, Fla.
Baylor coach Scott Drew, in his 16th season with the school, picked up his 300th victory while in charge of the Bears. He is 300-197 as the program's all-time leader in coaching victories.
McClure, a senior guard, shot 8-for-17 from the field, including five of the team's six 3-point baskets. He also pulled in a game-high 14 rebounds for his first career double-double. McClure reached the 20-point mark for the third time this season after doing so only once in 100 career games entering the season.
Makai Mason tied a season-high with 18 points for the Bears (4-2).
For George Mason (2-5), Otis Livingston II poured in 26 points and Jarred Reuter racked up 15 points. The team's other three starters combined for 12 points.
George Mason took a brief lead early in the second half before McClure had six points during a key stretch as the Bears started to pull away.
Neither team shot well in a foul-plagued game as both teams finished with more made free throws than successful field goals. Baylor made 24 of 29 free throws, while George Mason was 23 of 31 at the foul line.
Baylor's Tristan Clark, who scored 27 points a day earlier, fouled out with seven points.
The choppiness of the game was reflected in that Baylor had nine assists on 21 baskets.
Baylor, which was coming off a semifinal loss to Mississippi on Friday, led 28-27 at halftime. Both teams shot 33.3 percent from the field in the first half.
The teams combined to shoot 3-for-20 on first-half 3-pointers. George Mason finished 2-for-14 from long range.
Baylor has won 14 of its last 15 regular-season tournament games.
It was the first-ever meeting between the teams.
--Field Level Media
George Mason | Baylor | |
Otis Livingston II 26 | Scoring | King McClure 27 |
Ian Boyd 1 | Assists | King McClure 4 |
Justin Kier 6 | Rebounds | King McClure 14 |
Jarred Reuter 11 | Free Throws Made | Makai Mason 8 |
Justin Kier 2 | Steals | King McClure 3 |
Jaire Grayer 2 | Blocks | Tristan Clark 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
George Mason | 61 | 36.7 | 2-14 | 23-31 | 5 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 14 |
Baylor | 72 | 38.9 | 6-26 | 24-29 | 9 | 31 | 5 | 6 | 13 |