Feb. 11, 2008

Last week, the George Mason men's basketball team found out it would play Ohio in the ESPN BracketBuster on one of the ESPN networks. Today, the Patriots learned that they will take on the Bobcats on ESPN2 at 1 p.m. The Patriots will be playing on ESPN2 for the fifth time this season. It will be the second time in three seasons that Mason will play on ESPN2 in the BracketBuster. Two years ago, the Patriots faced Wichita State on ESPN2. Mason went on the road and beat the Shockers that year.

Mason, currently 17-7 and tied for second in the Colonial Athletic Association, will take on the Bobcats, who are presently 16-7, and tied for second in the Mid-American Conference. The Patriots have won seven of their past nine games to improve to 9-4 in the CAA, one game behind conference leader VCU. Ohio has also won seven of nine and is currently 7-3 in the MAC's East Division, tied with Akron and one game behind Kent State.

The Patriots and Ohio have never met. Mason has played against the MAC once this year, falling at Kent State. Ohio has faced one CAA school, beating Delaware at home, 78-59. Ohio is led by Leon Williams, who is averaging 16.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and shooting 60.9 percent from the field. Mason is led by Will Thomas, who is averaging 16.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and is shooting 63.9 percent from the filed.

As part of the ESPN BracketBuster, Ohio is slated to play at Patriot Center next season.