The George Mason Patriots responded after a first round loss to Houston, with a 79-75 win against Kent State at the Gulf Coast Showcase this afternoon. The Patriots (2-3) will play Bradley in the fifth-place consolation game of the Gulf Coast Showcase, Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Bradley defeated Wofford in the earlier game.

  The contest was an evenly matched game that saw 18 lead changes and 16 ties. The biggest lead for either team was six points. The Patriots were down 16-13 when they went on a 9-0 run in a four-minute span to take the 22-16 edge just under nine minutes left in the half. A three-point play by Jimmy Hall and a quick three-pointer by the Flash's Jaylin Walker tied the score for the sixth time.

 Otis Livingston II would tie the game for the seventh time at 32 with a 3-pointer with 3:17 remaining before the break.  Freshman Troy Temara was active on the glass with four rebounds, including three offensive and two assists in nine minutes before picking up second foul. Down two points 34-32, Temara had one of his three offensive boards that led to a Karmari Newman 3-pointer. Marquise Moore grabbed a board on the offensive end with seven seconds left in the half, dribble into the paint and made a layup at the buzzer to send the teams into the locker room tied for the ninth time at 38-38.

  The second half was more of the same with 11 lead changes and seven ties. Kent State would experience their biggest lead with 10:42 left in the game, 64-58. Jaire Grayer would lead a Mason 9-2 run, scoring five points, including a trey and two free throws to cut the lead 67-66. Grayer would score 11 of his 14 points in the second half.

  The score was last tied at 72-72. Kent State would go up three after a free throw by Jalen Avery and a jumper by Desmond Ridenour at 1:48 remaining. Moore scored on a layup and was fouled but missed the free throw so the Flash remained up one point. Avery would miss the front end of the one and one with :30 on the clock. After a timeout, Marquise Moore drove to the lane and kicked the ball out to Livingston in the corner and he delivered the three and the lead, 77-75. The Patriots defense got a stop and Moore sealed the win with two free throws with 1.2 seconds left.

THE SKINNY

• Marquise Moore tied his career-high 23 points. He notched his career-high two seasons ago at Iona (12/20/2014). He recorded his third double-double of the season (23 pts./14 rebs).
• Four Patriots scored in double figures. Marquise Moore had his third double-double of the season (23 points/14 rebounds). Freshman Justin Kier had a career-high 10 points. Otis Livingston (20 points) and Jaire Grayer (14 points), 11 in the second half.
• Freshman Troy Temara had four rebounds, including three offensive in 11 minutes.
• Mason made 7-of-16 3-pointers; Kent State 7-of-23
• Largest Leads: Mason 6; Kent St. 6
• Kent State took their biggest lead of the game at 6 points at 10:37 left in regulation.
• The Golden Flash's Jimmy Hall was held in check in the second-half. He scored 15 of his 20 points in the first half. He ended the game with 12 rebounds.