WHEN: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Bryce Jordan Center - University Park, Pa.
RECORDS: Mason (6-3), Penn State (6-3)
SERIES RECORD: Penn State leads, 6-0
LAST MEETING: PSU def. Mason, 77-73, at Penn State on March 7, 2009 (NIT)
TELEVISION: Big Ten Network
LIVE AUDIO: A10 Digital Network
GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)
FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team (6-3) plays at Penn State (6-3) to kick off a two-game road swing Wednesday in University Park, Pa.
Tip-off between the Patriots and Nittany Lions is set for 7 p.m. inside the Bryce Jordan Center. Wednesday's game will be televised nationally on the Big Ten Network, featuring commentary from Jason Horowitz and Jon Crispin. In addition, Bill Rohland will call the game on the A-10 Digital Network, with pregame audio coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.
* The Patriots are in the midst of a five-game winning streak which includes wins at then top-5 RPI opponent Northern Iowa and over Mercer. Mercer and UNI have combined for three NCAA Tournament victories over the past three seasons.
* The five-game winning streak is the Patriots' first since February 2012. Mason has not won six straight since a January stretch during that 2011-12 campaign.
* In their most recent outing, the Patriots defeated Mercer, 79-68, Saturday inside EagleBank Arena. The Patriots shot a season-best 47.1 percent from 3-point range (8-17) in the game.
* Senior
Marquise Moore led the Patriots with 21 points and 12 rebounds, marking his fifth double-double of the season. He is the top rebounding guard in the nation (10.0 rpg) and is the only guard in the country with 5+ double-doubles on the year.
* Mason held a +4 (35-31) rebounding margin against the Bears. The Patriots are 5-1 when they outrebound their opponent this season and are 40th nationally in rebounding margin (+6.9).
* Sophomore point guard
Otis Livingston II tallied 17 points, seven assists and 0 turnovers in 36 minutes vs. Mercer. He is 13th in the A-10 in assist/turnover ratio (1.7). Livingston II also was 4-of-4 from the line and is now seventh nationally in free throws made (23-24, .958) on the year.
* Freshman
Ian Boyd posted career highs in rebounds (8) and 3pt FG made (3) in the win over Mercer. He is averaging 9.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and shooting 53.8 percent over the past three games.
* Mason 4-1 in games away from EagleBank Arena this season.
WHO SAYS YOU HAVE TO BE TALL TO REBOUND?
Mason ranks 40th in the nation in rebounding margin (+6.9) despite ranking 328th out of 351 teams nationally in average height (6'3.5"/player). Three of the Patriots' starting guards average at least four rebounds per game, led by
Marquise Moore, who is the nation's top rebounding guard (10.0 rpg). Mason excels particularly on the defensive glass, where the team is 48th nationally in def. rebounds/game (28.44). What's more, Mason allows an offensive rebound on just 25 percent of its opponents possessions, and that solid number ranks the Patriots 40th nationally.
HISTORY vs. PENN STATE
Wednesday's game marks the seventh all-time matchup between Mason and Penn State on the hardwood, although the teams have only met once since 1999. The programs first battled on Nov. 26, 1988, with PSU grabbing a 58-54 victory in State College. In the most recent matchup, the Nittany Lions won a first round NIT game between the schools, 77-73, on March 7, 2009 inside the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State hit a 3-pointer at the regulation buzzer to force overtime and then claimed victory in the extra session. Cam Long (16), Andre Cornelius (12), Dre Smith (12) and Mike Morrison (11) all scored in double figures for the Patriots in the loss.
HISTORY vs. BIG TEN OPPONENTS
Mason is 3-22 all time against current members of the Big Ten Conference. The Patriots' most common opponents are Maryland (0-8), Penn State (0-6) and Michigan State (1-2). The win over the Spartans came in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament (75-65), sparking the Patriots' run to the Final Four. The last time Mason suited up against a Big Ten foe, the Patriots fell to Ohio State in the NCAA Round of 32 on March 20, 2011 in Cleveland. The Patriots took on Maryland in 2012-13, but the Terrapins were still a member of the ACC at the time.
A LOOK AT THE NITTANY LIONS (6-3, 0-0 BIG TEN)
Penn State is 6-3 to open the 2016-17 campaign, highlighted by victories over Duquesne (82-74), Georgia Tech (67-60) and at George Washington (74-68). PSU has lost to Albany (87-81), then-No. 1 Duke (78-68) and Cincinnati (72-50). The Nittany Lions are 13th in the country in blocks/game (6.3) and ninth nationally in free throw percentage (.796). Junior guard Shep Garner leads the team in scoring (14.9 ppg) and is shooting 37.5 percent (24-64) from 3-point range. Garner is one of four Nittany Lions that score in double figures. Lamar Stevens (12.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) amd Tony Carr (11.9 ppg, team-high 4.0 apg) are a part of that group, as well as Payton Banks (10.6 ppg). Redshirt-freshman Mike Watkins is fourth in the country with 3.67 blocks/contest.
UP NEXT
Mason wraps up its two-game road swing with a trip to the Cathedral of College Hoops. The Patriots will take on Penn on Saturday at 2 p.m. inside the Palestra in Philadelphia.
