Jan. 11, 2008

The George Mason men's basketball team returns home on Saturday looking to rebound from a difficult road loss on Wednesday. The Patriots held a 19-point second-half lead over the Blue Hens, but turnovers and fouls allowed Delaware rally to take an overtime victory. Mason has now lost two games this year in which it lead by 16 or more points.

Mason is 5-4 all-time against Northeastern including a 3-1 mark in CAA play. The Patriots lost the last meeting, Mason's most lopsided defeat in 2006-07. The Huskies took a 73-50 win in the regular-season finale. The Patriots opened the season 6-1 but are just 4-4 since. However, Mason (10-5, 2-2) is 7-0 at home this year winning those game by an average margin of victory of 13.4 points. The Huskies (6-8, 2-2) are just 3-7 on the road this year.

Will Thomas is the only player in the CAA averaging more than 16 points and nine rebounds per game. He's also third in field-goal percentage. With 12 rebounds against Northeastern, he'll up his season average to 10 rebounds per game and he'll also reach 800 rebounds for his career.

Folarin Campbell needs six points and one block to become the first player in Mason history with 1,200 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists, 100 3-pointers, 100 steals and 50 blocks. He needs two assists to tie Steve Smith for fifth on the career list and four to tie John Niehoff for fourth in all-time assists. John Vaughan needs two 3-pointers to become just the ninth player in Mason history to reach 100 for his career.

Matt Janning, last year's CAA Rookie of the Year, leads the Huskies. He is among the top five in the CAA in scoring with 16.4 points per game. He is shooting 46.4 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line. Manny Adako is averaging 12.2 points per game while leading the CAA in field-goal percentage at .643. Nkem Ojougboh is averaging 11.2 points and is among the top 10 in the CAA in rebounding at 7.9 per game.

Saturday's game, which will be televised on Comcast SportsNet, tips at 2 p.m. It will be Armed Forces Day at Patriot Center. Fans showing their military ID at the Box Office can purchase a $6 discounted ticket. At halftime, there will be a performance by the New Guard America Drill Team.