WHEN: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: Mason (8-7, 2-0), Davidson (10-4, 1-0)
SERIES RECORD: Mason trails, 2-4
LAST MEETING: Davidson def. Mason, 86-59, on Jan. 7, 2018 in Fairfax
ESPN+: Click Here
LIVE AUDIO: Mason Digital Network 
LIVE STATS: Click here
GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)
TICKETS: Click here

STUDENTS BRING A FRIEND: Mason students can bring a friend to the game for free (must present a valid Mason ID)
FREE TICKETS FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Federal employees impacted by the government shutdown can receive two free tickets (must present valid government ID; offer only valid on gameday at EBA box office)

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team (8-7, 2-0 A-10) will look to continue its strong start to league play Wednesday when the Patriots host conference contender Davidson (10-4, 1-0) inside EagleBank Arena.

Tip-off between the Patriots and Wildcats is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday's game will be streamed nationally on ESPN+. An ESPN+ subscription, with access to all Mason home events and select away events, as well as NHL/MLB/College Sports and more, can be purchased for $4.99/month. In addition on Friday, "Voice of the Patriots" Bill Rohland's audio stream will be available for free via GoMason.com. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. via GoMason.com.

PATRIOT POINTS
* The Patriots have won 21 of their past 39 A-10 games (.538), including five of the past six dating back to 2017-18. Mason went 12-39 (.235) over its first three seasons in the league.

* Mason is 2-0 in A-10 play for the first time in its six years in the conference.

* Last time out, the Patriots outscored St. Bonaventure 24-8 over the final 10 minutes to beat the Bonnies, 68-53. Mason held SBU to 39 percent shooting, including a 5-of-20 mark (.250) from deep.

* Over the past three games, Mason has dominated the final 10 minutes of the second half. The Patriots are +49 (77-28) overall in those 30 total minutes and have outscored their opponents by an average of 16.3 points during those 10-minute periods.

* Over the past five games, Mason is holding its opponents to 57.6 ppg and a combined 36.2 percent (101-279) shooting mark. Patriot foes averaged 75 points and shot 47.3 percent over the first 10 games of 2018-19. Mason is 6-1 this season when holding its opponent under 70 points.

* Junior Justin Kier led Mason with 15 points and 14 rebounds vs. SBU. He is the College Sports Madness A-10 Player of the Week after averaging 16.5 points and 14.0 rebounds in two wins for Mason. He's posted at least 12 points in eight-straight games and has notched double-doubles in four of the past five contests. During that stretch, Mason has posted a 6-2 record.

* Kier is one of six players in the nation who averages at least 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals per game. That list includes Duke's Zion Williamson.

* Since returning from the Emerald Coast Classic, Mason has won six of the past eight games, including four of the last five.

* Senior Otis Livingston II chipped in 13 points and made a trio of 3-pointers vs. Bona. With his 10th point of the game, he passed Robert Dykes (1987-91) and moved into fourth on the all-time Mason scoring list. He's up to 1,647 career points. 

* Sophomore forward Greg Calixte chipped in eight points (3-4 FG) and nine minutes vs. SBU. He's averaging 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and shooting 72.7 percent in 19.0 minutes per game during A-10 play.

* After Wednesday's home contest, three of Mason's next four games will be played on the road.

BIG SHOT BOYD BACK AT IT DURING ATLANTIC 10 PLAY
Junior guard Ian Boyd has summoned his flair for the dramatic in conference play once again this season. After hitting buzzer beaters in three consecutive A-10 games for Mason last season, Boyd has converted a series of big time shots in 2018-19 league games. In the opener at Saint Joseph's, the Patriots were in a tight battle midway through the second half before Boyd hit a clutch 3-pointer, then converted a 4-point play on the next possession to give Mason a lead (55-50) it would not relinquish. Then on Sunday vs. SBU, Boyd beat the buzzer at halftime with a 3-pointer to give Mason a 28-25 lead. In the second half after the Bonnies cut the Patriot lead to six late (56-50), Boyd drilled another triple that stopped the SBU run and helped Mason clinch the win.

PATRIOTS HAVE ABILITY TO HIT 3-POINTERS IN BUNCHES
While Mason's long distance shooting has been streaky at times this season, there's no doubt the Patriots can get hot in a hurry. Mason was just one off the school record of 16 triples with a 15 3-pointer performance vs. Saint Joseph's. Mason also hit 14 at Georgia Southern on Nov. 13 and has made 10 or more 3-pointers four times this season. Mason is 6-2 when the team makes at least seven trifectas in 2018-19.

HISTORY vs. DAVIDSON
Wednesday's matchup marks the seventh all-time meeting between Mason and Davidson. The Wildcats hold a 4-2 advantage in the series, although Mason has won two of the past three matchups. Davidson holds a 2-1 edge in Fairfax. In 2016-17, Mason won 76-69 in North Carolina behind strong efforts from Jalen Jenkins (23 pts, 9-13 FG), Otis Livingston II (16 pts) and Marquise Moore (16 pts, 11 reb). Last season, Davidson claimed an 86-59 victory on Jan. 7 in Fairfax. Livingston II tallied 20 points and made 4-of-5 3-pointers in the defeat. He is averaging 18.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in his last two games against the Wildcats.

A LOOK AT THE WILDCATS (10-4, 1-0 Atlantic 10; KenPom No. 91, NET No. 100)
Davidson was picked to finish third and received six first place votes in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll. The Wildcats put together a 9-4 non-conference slate, including a neutral site victory over Wichita State (57-53). Davidson fell to Wake Forest (63-67) and Temple (75-77 OT) by a combined six points and without preseason All-Atlantic 10 First Team selection Kellan Grady. In 10 of 14 Wildcat games this season, Grady averages a team-high 19.2 points and shoots 49.7 percent from the floor. Point guard Jon Axel Gudmundsson contributes 17.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists while forward Luka Brajkovic chips in 12.1 points, a team-high 6.6 rebounds and shoots 57 percent from the floor. The Wildcats have played a top-50 KenPom strength of schedule while ranking ninth nationally in free throw percentage (.781) and 22nd in block percentage. The Wildcats also are 52nd nationally in 2-point field goal percentage (.552).

UP NEXT
The Patriots hit the road to battle a pair of A-10 foes in New England. First up is Rhode Island on Sunday (Jan. 13) in Kingston. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network.

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