WASHINGTON -- It didn't take long for Nik Caner-Medley and No. 12 Maryland to atone for a poor performance against Wisconsin.
Caner-Medley and Chris McCray each scored 20 points and 12th-ranked Maryland limited George Mason to four first-half baskets in a victory.
John Gilchrist had nine points and nine assists for the Terrapins (4-1), who advanced to Sunday's championship game of the BB&T Classic. Maryland will face George Washington, which beat No. 11 Michigan State 96-83.
The Terrapins will be seeking their fifth title in the tournament's 10-year history.
Eager to bounce back from a road loss against 25th-ranked Wisconsin on Tuesday, Maryland took a 16-point lead in the opening 5 minutes and led 38-15 at halftime.
Held to seven points on 2-for-9 shooting against the Badgers, Caner-Medley was sharp from the outset against George Mason. The 6-foot-8 forward scored 11 of the Terrapins' first 18 points, including nine in a 16-0 spurt that made it 18-2.
"We did a good job of preparing after the loss to Wisconsin," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "We came out with a good intensity level, and we got off to a great start."
By halftime, Caner-Medley had as many field goals as the Patriots. He finished 7-for-9 from the floor and 4-for-4 at the line.
"He was in better position a lot when he shot the ball. He wasn't off balance," Williams said.
George Mason (3-2) made only four of 27 field-goal attempts in the first half and went 0-for-13 from 3-point range.
"They were good and we were bad right from the opening tip," Patriots coach Jim Larranaga said. "It seemed Maryland was the car and we were the deer. When the headlights came on, we froze."
Jai Lewis had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Patriots, who are 0-7 against Maryland.
"We just came out tonight and made sure we were prepared," Gilchrist said. "Anytime you have a letdown, you have to come back strong."
With 11 minutes elapsed, George Mason trailed 24-6 after going 3-for-19 from the floor with six turnovers.
"We knew they shoot a lot of 3-pointers," Williams said. "We were playing good enough perimeter defense to shut them down."
Two free throws by McCray increased the margin to 20. It was 33-14 before McCray hit a 3-pointer and D.J. Strawberry scored on a drive to give the Terps a 24-point cushion just before halftime.
Maryland continued the onslaught in the second half. A 3-pointer by McCray made it 51-21 with 15 minutes left, and the Terrapins upped the lead to 37 points before coasting to the finish.
