Updated

Quincy Ford and Joel Smith scored 15 points apiece and Northeastern defeated George Mason 71-51 Sunday night to take a three-game lead in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Reggie Spencer scored 14 points and Dinko Marshavelski added 11 points for the Huskies (13-7, 8-0), who have won eight in a row and nine of their last 10. One of those wins was at George Mason on Jan. 3, 84-74.

Northeastern is off to its best start in CAA play since becoming a member in 2005.

The Huskies, coming off a double-overtime win Wednesday night over William & Mary, shot 57 percent in the second half and 53 percent for the game.

Vertrail Vaughns scored 13 points and Sherrod Wright scored 12 to lead the Patriots (12-8, 5-3), whose three-game winning streak ended. George Mason fell into a second-place tie with James Madison in the CAA.