WHEN: Saturday, 2 p.m.
WHERE: Tom Gola Arena - Philadelphia, Pa.
RECORDS: Mason (12-14, 6-7), La Salle (10-16, 4-9)
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads, 3-1
LAST MEETING: Mason def. La Salle, 95-75, on Feb. 4, 2017
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FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team (12-14, 6-7) plays the first of two straight games in Philadelphia on Saturday when the Patriots battle La Salle (10-16, 4-9) in Tom Gola Arena. 

Tip-off between the Patriots and Explorers is set for 2 p.m. Saturday's game will be broadcast on the La Salle channel of the A-10 Digital Network. In addition, Bill Rohland will provide live audio on the Mason A-10 Digital Network channel, with streaming coverage beginning at 1:45 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
• Mason is 3-6 on the road this season, while La Salle is 8-3 at home.

• The Patriots have won two games in a row and three of the past four contests.

• Mason is 16-16 (.500) in its past 32 A-10 games after beginning its league tenure with a 12-39 mark (.235) from 2013 to 2016.

• The Patriots are coming off an all-around superb effort in an 85-67 triumph over Dayton on Wednesday in Fairfax. It snapped a seven-game losing skid against the Flyers dating back to 2010.

• The Patriots held Dayton - the A-10's leader in field goal percentage - to just 38.2 percent shooting in the game, including a paltry 26.9 percent from beyond the arc.

• On the other end, Mason shot 50.9 percent from the floor and made an A-10 season-best 52.6 percent (10-19) of its 3-point attempts. Mason is shooting 44.3 percent (27-61) from 3-point range over the past three games.

• Mason gave up 82.8 points per game and allowed opponents to shoot 47.6 percent over the first nine games of the A-10 schedule (3-6). Over the past four games, the Patriots are holding their opponents to 39.6 percent from the floor, 29.3 percent from beyond the arc and just 68.5 points per game.

•  The Patriots are a combined +42 (176-134) on the glass over the past four games for an average margin of +10.5.

• In A-10 play, Mason ranks fourth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.363, 98-270).

• Junior Otis Livingston II poured in a game-high 29 points vs. Dayton and hit a career-best seven 3-pointers on just nine attempts (.778). It marked the most 3-pointers by a Patriot since Andre Cornelius hit seven vs. UNC Wilmington on Feb. 8, 2011.

• Justin Kier (14 pts, 6 ast), Goanar Mar (12 pts) and Ian Boyd (10 pts, 6 reb) also played well against the Flyers.

• The Patriots are averaging 22.3 bench points over the past three contests.

• In conference play, the Patriots lead the A-10 in defensive rebounds per game (28.2) and are fifth in offensive boards/contest (10.5).

• Junior Jaire Grayer is at 489 career rebounds and needs just 11 more to become the 22nd Mason player all time with 500 boards.

HISTORY vs. LA SALLE
Saturday's game marks the fifth all-time meeting between George Mason and La Salle in men's basketball. The programs had never met prior to the Patriots' entry into the Atlantic 10 in 2013-14. The two teams have split a pair of meetings all time in Philadelphia. Last season, Mason earned a 95-75 victory in EagleBank Arena on Feb. 4, 2017. Jaire Grayer posted a season-best 22 points in the game, made 4-of-6 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds. Otis Livingston II couldn't miss – literally – while making 5-of-5 shots from the field, 3-of-3 3-pointers and 5-of-5 attempts from the line. He finished with 19 points and three assists.

HISTORY vs. THE BIG FIVE
Mason is 8-9 all time against members of Philadelphia's "Big Five." Mason is 1-4 against Saint Joseph's, 1-4 against Villanova, 3-1 vs. La Salle and 3-0 vs. Penn. The Patriots have never played Temple. Mason's most memorable Big Five win came in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, when the Green & Gold knocked off Villanova, 61-57, in the Round of 64 in Cleveland, Ohio. Harkening back to the old CAA days, Mason also has battled Philadelphia school Drexel on 22 occasions while amassing a record of 14-8.

A LOOK AT THE EXPLORERS (10-16, 4-9 A-10; No. 192 RPI, No. 169 KenPom.com)
La Salle was picked to finish ninth out of 14 teams in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll. The Explorers posted a 6-7 non-conference mark, highlighted by Big Five wins over Penn and Temple. The Explorers are 4-9 in A-10 play and have dropped their past three contests. La Salle ranks in the top-20 nationally in free throw percentage (.773), but ranks in the bottom five of the A-10 in field goal percentage and opponent field goal percentage. The Explorers are led by scoring savant B.J. Johnson, a preseason All-A-10 second team selection who leads the A-10 in points per game (20.6). He also grabs a team-high 7.9 rebounds per contest. Talented point guard Pookie Powell is the second half of La Salle's two-headed offensive monster. He posts 17.1 points/game and a team-high 4.2 assists per game. Isiah Deas is at 10.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

TRENDING UPWARD
There are a couple relevant trends to highlight during Mason's 3-1 stretch over the past four games. The Patriots are arguably one possession away from being 4-0, with the only loss coming 67-66 at Fordham. The Green & Gold have posted an average scoring margin of +7.0 compared to -8.1 over the first nine A-10 games. In addition,  Mason's reserve guards and forwards have elevated their games, allowing starters the opportunity for more rest. Javon Greene (21.0 mpg vs. 14.7 mpg), AJ Wilson (14.0 mpg vs. 9.9 mpg) and Ian Boyd (24.0 mpg vs. 22.4 mpg) have all seen increased playing time, while Jaire Grayer (33.0 mpg vs. 19.7 mpg) and Greg Calixte (27.8 mpg vs. 23.3 mpg) have been able to buy valuable minutes on the bemch.

PATRIOTS BACK TO PAULSEN PROWESS ON THE BOARDS
Dave Paulsen teams are often known for their relentless rebounding effort, particularly on the defensive glass. This season through the first 22 games, Mason ranked 165th in defensive rebounds/game (25.64) and held an average rebounding margin of -0.4. Over the past four games (3-1), the Patriots have averaged 44.0 rebounds per game, including 32.8 defensively, with an average margin of +10.5. Over that span, Mason has climbed 87 spots in the national rankings and is now 78th nationally in defensive rebounds/game (26.73).

UP NEXT
Mason remains in Philadelphia for a Wednesday contest at Saint Joseph's. Tip-off between the Patriots and Hawks is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Hagan Arena. The game will be broadcast on the A-10 Digital Network.