WHEN: Saturday, 2 p.m.
WHERE: Siegel Center, Richmond, Va.
RECORDS: Mason (19-11, 9-8), VCU (23-7, 13-4)
SERIES RECORD: Mason trails, 19-36
LAST MEETING: VCU def. Mason, 73-64, on Dec. 30, 2016, in Fairfax
TELEVISION: MASN
FACEBOOK LIVE STREAM: Click here
LIVE AUDIO: Click here
GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team (19-11, 9-8) wraps up the regular season with a matchup at VCU (23-7 ,13-4) Saturday in Richmond.

Tip-off between the Patriots and Rams is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday's game will be televised locally on MASN and streamed nationally on Facebook Live. Jay Burnham and Brooks Berry will call the game. In addition, Bill Rohland will broadcast the game on the A-10 Digital Network, with pre-game coverage beginning at 1:45 p.m.

* The Patriots are tied with GW for sixth place in the A-10 standings. Depending on the outcome of Saturday's league contests, Mason will enter next week's A-10 Tourney as either the No. 6, 7 or 8 seed. The program's highest previous A-10 seed was 12.

* Mason has set a new program record with nine A-10 wins (previous record was 5). The Patriots also have eclipsed their win total from the 2015-16 season (11) by a significant margin. Mason is one of the nation's top-15 most improved teams in comparison to last season's results.

* Last time out, Mason snapped a three-game skid with a 63-62 win over Duquesne Wednesday on Senior Night. Jalen Jenkins (13 pts), Otis Livingston II (12 pts, 5 ast) and Marquise Moore (8 pts, 13 reb) paced the Patriots in the win.

* During Mason's three-game skid, the Patriots averaged 14.7 turnovers/contest and Mason's opponents were a combined +48 (59-11) in points off turnovers over that stretch. On Wednesday, the Patriots were +5 (12-7) in turnover margin and held a 18-5 edge in points off turnovers for the game..

* Mason's record for rebounds in a season is 1,287, set in 1976-77. The 2016-17 Patriots are at 1,208 with at least two games remaining in the campaign.

* Freshman Karmari Newman is averaging 8.2 points and shooting 53.8 percent over the past five games, while fellow freshman Ian Boyd is at 9.0 ppg and shooting 55.6 percent over the past four.

* Mason is shooting 81.6 percent (146-179) from the free throw line over the past eight games. The Patriots are 54th nationally in free throw percentage (.739) and get 22.7 percent of their points from the line (34th nationally).

HISTORY vs. VCU
Saturday's game marks the 56th all-time meeting between old CAA and current A-10 foes George Mason and VCU. Mason is 13-10 at home vs. VCU, 5-20 on the road and 1-6 on neutral courts. The Rams have won nine of the past 12 meetings, including the first (73-64) this season on Dec. 30 in Fairfax. Five players scored in double figures in that matchup, led by Jalen Jenkins (12). Otis Livingston II, Jaire Grayer, Ian Boyd and Marquise Moore all chipped in 10 points.

A LOOK AT THE RAMS (23-7, 13-4 A-10)
VCU was picked to finish third out of 14 teams in the 2016-17 Atlantic 10 preseason poll. The team posted a 10-3 non-conference record. The Havoc-minded Rams are up to their usual tricks this season, ranking in the top-50 nationally in steals per game (7.8, 36th) and turnovers forced (15.1/game, 46th). Senior guard JeQuan Lewis - a preseason all-conference third team selection - leads the team in scoring (15.1 ppg) and assists (4.4 apg) while averaging 1.8 steals. Junior forward Justin Tillman chips in 12.4 ppg and a team-best 8.3 rebounds per contest, while redshirt-senior Mo Alie-Cox averages 10.1 ppg and is shooting 56.8 percent from the floor.

HISTORY vs. DIV. I VIRGINIA OPPONENTS
Saturday's game marks the 380th all-time game for Mason against an in-state, Div. I foe. The Patriots are 177-202 (.467). Harkening back to its CAA history, Mason's most common in-state opponents are James Madison (46-50), Richmond (23-35), William & Mary (39-27), Old Dominion (21-36) and VCU (19-36). Mason is 4-1 against in-state foes this season, with victories over James Madison, Longwood and Richmond (2x) and a loss to VCU.  

HANDICAPPING MASON'S NEIGHBORS
With just one game remaining in the regular season, there is a veritable traffic jam in the middle of the Atlantic 10 standings. As a result, the Patriots will enter the A-10 Tourney as either the No. 6, No. 7 or No. 8 seed. Here's what's left for each team.

Saint Bonaventure (10-7): vs. UMass (4-13)
George Mason (9-8): at VCU (13-4)
George Washington (9-8): at Dayton (15-2)
Davidson (8-9): at Rhode Island (12-5)
La Salle (8-9): vs. Fordham (7-10)
Fordham (7-10): at La Salle (8-9)

UP NEXT
Mason heads to Pittsburgh for the A-10 Championship March 9-12 at PPG Paints Arena, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Depending on Saturday's results, Mason will enter the tournament as either the No. 6, No. 7 or No. 8 seed. The Patriots have clinched an opening round bye for the first time in program history and will open the event on Thursday, March 9.

2017-2018 New Season Tickets Deposit
Reserve your basketball season tickets today to lock in your seats for next year. Place a $50 per seat deposit to guarantee your place for priority seat selection for the 2017-18 season. Click here for more info or contact the Mason Athletic Ticket Office at 703-993-3270.