Streaking Davidson Wildcats finding a new identity

The manner in which the Davidson Wildcats are turning their season around just might ruin their reputation.

The Wildcats, known for years under coach Bob McKillop as a free-wheeling, high-scoring outfit, beat George Mason 68-53 Saturday at Belk Arena, their third victory in a row and fourth in their last five games games. After starting 1-3 in the Atlantic 10, the Wildcats are now 4-3 (10-9 overall) heading into a game Wednesday at George Washington.

And the way Davidson beat George Mason (13-7, 2-5) — playing lock-down defense and holding its own on the boards against one of the A-10’s better rebounding teams — was similar to a victory Wednesday against Saint Louis.

“We’re heading in the right direction, trying to find a new identity that we didn’t have at the beginning of the year,” said senior guard Jon Axel Gudmundsson, who had 27 points and 10 rebounds against the Patriots. “It’s working really well for us.”

Davidson held George Mason to 31.7 percent shooting, days after limiting Saint Louis to 33.9 percent. The Wildcats were outrebounded 39-36 by the Patriots, but held a 27-23 edge on the defensive boards. And Davidson held a 38-36 edge against Saint Louis, the league’s top rebounding team.

“Every game in the Atlantic 10 is going to be a battle,” said McKillop. “That’s what makes it such a challenge. There’s a different style for every team. Every team is a veteran team. That’s what invited this very hard-fought victory.”

McKillop also got some surprising production Saturday from his Jones boys — junior forward Bates Jones and redshirt freshman guard Mike Jones. They’re not related. Bates Jones is from Charlotte and played at Charlotte Latin. Mike Jones, who missed last season after he tore his ACL in a preseason exhibition, is from Woodbury, Minn.

The 6-foot-8 Bates Jones, with brother New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones watching in the stands, had seven rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes.

Mike Jones, a rangy 6-foot-4, scored 15 points on 5 of 12 3-point shooting. Still wearing a brace on his knee from his ACL surgery, Jones also had two blocked shots Wednesday against Saint Louis.

“I’m a guy who’s trusted to make buckets,” Mike Jones said. “I’m always ready to shoot it. And I found myself open.”

Said McKillop: “Mike got some great looks and knocked down enough of them. Bates did a great job of fighting and got some key offensive rebounds that I thought were pivotal.”

Mike Jones’ offensive production helped offset off nights for leading scorer Kellan Grady, who scored five points, and forward Luka Brajkovic, who was in foul trouble for much of the game and finished with five.

Grady, however, contributed at the defensive end, holding George Mason’s Javon Greene — who had averaged 35.5 points over the previous two games — to 12 points.

“I thought Kellan’s defense was the best he’s ever played,” said McKillop.

The question now for the Wildcats is, can they keep this going. After losing starters Luke Frampton and KiShawn Pritchett during the season, the ceiling for Davidson, a preseason A-10 favorite with NCAA tournament aspirations, might not be as high as it once was. Or maybe it’s the same.

“Our theme for the last 48 hours was ‘hungry, not fat and happy,’ ” McKillop said. “It’s going to continue to be that. What this team has been through, to start 1-3 in the conference and to put us in this position we’re in now, should make this team hungry every time it steps on the court.”