BROOKLYN, N.Y. – George Mason cut it to two points with 19 seconds left to play, but Fordham finished perfect from the free throw line to close out a 71-65 victory in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Championship on Wednesday in Barclays Center.

Marquise Moore and Isaiah Jackson each chipped in 18 points while Patrick Holloway added 10 points to complete the trio of Patriots in double-figures. Mason shot 48.0 percent (24-50) for the game as Fordham shot 47.9 percent (23-48). The Rams narrowly won the rebounding battle, 29-27. Chris Sengfelder led all players with 27 points as Mandell Thomas contributed 13 points and Bryan Smith added 12 points. Sengfelder led Fordham with five rebounds.

Mason held its largest lead of three points in the first half in a period that witness seven tied scores and six lead changes. Sengfelder led the Rams with 15 points in the period as Mason was led by Moore and Jackson with seven points each.

Ryan Rhoomes opened the second half with a bucket for Fordham before a 7-0 Mason spurt cut it to 36-35 with 16:18 to play, forcing the Rams to burn a timeout. After Fordham built its lead out to nine points, Mason cut it to three with just under nine minutes to play, but the Rams would regain a steady nine-point lead until Mason sliced it to two points with 3:49 to go. With 1:07 on the clock, Fordham held an eight-point lead as Moore and Patrick Holloway slowly chipped away at the deficit, setting up the two point ballgame after a pair of triples with 18.9 seconds to play. Fordham finished 4-for-4 from the free throw line to close out the win.