Patrick Stevens The Washington Times - March 9, 2009, 07:00PM

RICHMOND —- Just about time to tip off at the Richmond Coliseum.

It’s the 20th straight CAA tournament final in this building, and the lower bowl is packed. The upper deck is quickly filling up as well.

SEE RELATED:

The 10,000+ will get the chance to see the league’s two best teams —- both this year and over the last several seasons. VCU won the CAA in 2004 and 2007; Mason won last season, and of course made its Final Four run in 2006.

Whoever emerges tonight will be a handful for some poor No. 4 or No. 5 seed to contend with in another 10 days or so.

The officiating crew of Bryan Kersey, Mike Wood and Bernard Clinton have just walked onto the floor. Here’s the lineups:

GEORGE MASON (22-9)

G-20-Cam Long
G-1-Dre Smith
G-23-John Vaughan
F-33-Louis Birdsong
F-32-Darryl Monroe

VCU (23-9)

G-12-Joey Rodriguez
G-3-Eric Maynor
G-20-Bradford Burgess
F-11-Kirill Pishchalnikov
F-1-Larry Sanders

—- Patrick Stevens