FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason will wrestle in front of its home crowd for the first time during the 2008-09 season on Thursday when it takes on The Citadel in a 7 p.m. dual meet at the Field House. The Patriots opened up the season on the road against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. on Nov. 9.

Mason lost a close dual to Virginia Tech by a final score of 22-18. The Patriots fell behind 15-6 after five matches but battled back to tie the score at 18 heading into the final match of the night at the heavyweight class. However, freshman Hunter Manspile was unable to score the victory as Mason fell by four points to its in-state rival.

Thursday's dual will be the first opportunity for the home fans to see sophomore 197-pounder Cayle Byers in action. Byers is ranked 11th in the latest InterMat poll and 12th by Amateur Wrestling News in its latest poll. Both polls were released on Nov. 18. Byers won his first match of the season by five points, 9-4, against Virginia Tech's D.J. Bruce.

The Citadel has split the first two dual meets of its 2008-09 campaign, beating Belmont Abbey 28-6 on Nov. 7 before falling to Liberty 22-16 on Nov. 15. Odie Delaney (197), J.C. Oddo (174) and Derek Royster (141) have all won two dual matches this season.

Tickets to the meet cost $5 for adults and $2 for youth and senior citizens. All full-time enrolled students at George Mason University will get in for free with a valid Mason student ID.