WHEN: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: John Gray Gymnasium - George Town, Grand Cayman
RECORDS: Mason (7-1), New Mexico State (4-3)
SERIES RECORD: First meeting
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LIVE AUDIO: Click here
LIVE STATS: Click here
GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)

GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman - The George Mason University men's basketball team (7-1) will meet mid-major power New Mexico State for the Cayman Islands Classic title on Wednesday night inside John Gray Gymnasium.

Tip-off between the Patriots and Aggies is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday's game will be broadcast on FloHoops, featuring commentary from Scott Galetti and Kyle Youmans. In addition, Bill Rohland will call the game live on the GoMason Digital Network. Streaming coverage will begin at 7:15 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
* The Patriots advanced to the championship game with wins over Old Dominion (60-53) and Nebraska (85-66). Mason is looking for its first regular season tournament championship since 1993-94, when the Patriots won the Iona Classic.

* Mason is 7-1 for the first time since 1983-84. The Patriots began the year 5-0 for the first time in school history, before falling to then-No. 6/7 Maryland on Friday.

* On Tuesday, the Patriots defeated Nebraska 85-66 in semifinal action. Mason was +23 (49-26) on the glass and held a 17-9 edge in second chance points.

* Mason is a combined +37 (89-52) on the boards in two games in the Cayman Classic (30-9 edge in second chance points).

* Sophomore Jamal Hartwell II led Mason with career highs in points (23) and assists (6) vs. the Huskers while converting 5-of-10 3-point attempts.

* Sophomore Jordan Miller scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half, whille redshirt-junior AJ Wilson added a career-best 14 rebounds, five blocks and eight points.

* Junior Javon Greene tallied 17 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists. He leads Mason in 3pt FG made (20) and steals/game (2.0) and is second in rebounding (7.1 rpg). He is averaging 18.0 points and 3.0 steals in the Cayman Classic.

* Mason has held its opponent under 40 percent shooting in five games this season, including a 39.3 percent clip for Nebraska Tuesday. The Patriots are 37th nationally in 3pt FG defense (.270).

HISTORY vs. NEW MEXICO STATE
Mason and New Mexico State will meet for first time ever in men's basketball on Wednesday night.

HISTORY vs. WAC OPPONENTS
Wednesday's game will mark just the second time in program history that Mason has played a current member of the Western Athletic Conference. In the only other meeting, the Patriots defeated Seattle University, 77-68, on Dec. 20, 1983 in Fairfax. That Mason team began the year 12-1 and went on to post a 21-7 record.

A LOOK AT THE AGGIES (4-3, 0-0 WAC; KenPom No. 82)
New Mexico State was picked to win the WAC in the league's 2019-20 preseason poll. The Aggies went 30-5 last season and nearly knocked off eventual Final Four team Auburn (L, 77-78) in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. One of the premier mid-major programs in the nation, the Aggies have made the Big Dance in four of the past five years and qualified for the NIT in 2015-16. NMSU returns four starters and nine letter winners overall from last season's 30-5 squad. The Aggies are 4-3 to begin the year and own wins over Colorado State (78-70 OT) and USF (65-45) in the Cayman Classic. The Aggies are an elite rebounding team and hold a net margin of +7.6 on the year. Preseason All-WAC First Team selection Trevelin Queen leads the Aggies with 17.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest, while Jabari Rice adds11.7 points and shoots 42.3 percent from 3-point range.

UP NEXT
Mason enjoys a six-day competitive hiatus before returning to EagleBank Arena for a three-game homestand. The series opens with a 7 p.m. contest on Tuesday (Dec. 3) against Jacksonville State.