WHEN: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: Mason (8-1), Jacksonville State (2-4)
SERIES RECORD: First meeting
LIVE VIDEO: Click here
LIVE AUDIO: Click here
LIVE STATS: Click here
GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF) 
TICKETS: Click here

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team (8-1) returns to Fairfax to begin a three-game homestand. First up is Jacksonville State on Tuesday.

Tip-off between the Patriots and Gamecocks is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+, featuring commentary from Steve Kolbe. In addition, Bill Rohland will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with pre-game coverage scheduled for 6:45 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
• Mason is 8-1 for the first time since 1983-84. The Patriots began the year 5-0 for the first time in school history, before falling to now #3 Maryland on Nov. 22.

• The Patriots are back in Virginia after winning the Cayman Islands Classic title this past week, highlighted by a 68-64 triumph over KenPom top-100 team New Mexico State in the title game and a 19-point win (85-66) over Power 5 foe Nebraska in the semifinals.

• In the win over NMSU, Mason erased a 12-point halftime deficit (35-23) and was +16 (45-29) in the second half. The Patriots limited the Aggies to 34.4 percent in the final stanza and shot a sizzling 55.6 percent (15-27) on the offensive end.

• Mason was a combined +41 (124-83) on the boards in three games in the Cayman Classic (53-19 edge in second chance points). Mason now ranks 61st nationally in rebounding margin (+5.9) and is sixth nationally in total rebounds (372).

• Sophomore Jamal Hartwell II led Mason with 17 points vs. NMSU, 13 of which came in the second half. He's averaging 20.0 points and shooting 44.4 percent from 3 over the past two games.

• Redshirt-junior AJ Wilson added 12 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks vs. the Aggies. He was named the MVP of the Cayman Classic after averaging 12.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.0 blocks over the three games.

• The Cayman Classic title marked Mason's first regular season tournament victory since 1993-94 when the Patriots won the Iona Classic.

• Wilson is fourth nationally in offensive rebounds/game (4.4) and sixth in blocks per contest (3.8).

• With his four blocks vs. Nebraska, Wilson moved into a tie for sixth place on Mason's all-time blocks list (106) with Rob Rose (1982-86).

• Junior Javon Greene is the College Sports Madness A-10 Player of the Week after averaging 15 points and 6.3 rebounds in the Caymans.

• 2019 A-10 Most Improved Player Justin Kier returned to the lineup with a vengenace in the Caymans after missing the season's first six games. He scored a combined 20 points in 25 minutes over the past two games in an absurdly efficient 9-of-10 shooting effort (2-2 3pt FG) vs. Nebraska and NMSU. Through three games, his offensive rating is 125.9, a number which would rank him first in the nation if the sample size was large enough. He will look to continue his gradual minutes progression in the coming weeks.

• Mason has held its opponent under 40 percent shooting in six games this season, including a 39.7 percent clip for NMSU Wednesday. The Patriots are 30th nationally in 3pt FG defense (.271).

• The Patriots played nine games in 23 days to open the season, including a five-game, eight-day stretch which wrapped up in the Caymans. After JSU Tuesday, Mason will play just three games in 32 days, prior to the Jan. 5 A-10 opener vs. VCU.

• Mason is ranked 24th in the Mid Major Top-25 compiled by MidMajorMadness.com. 

MASON BENEFITING FROM HARTWELL II's CALIFORNIA LOVE
Sophomore point guard Jamal Hartwell II's decision to travel from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles to Fairfax, Virginia to play his college ball is one #MasonNation is truly grateful for. After playing 11.0 mpg as a freshman backing up all-time great Otis Livingston II, Hartwell has blossomed into an outstanding all-around point guard as a sophomore. He averages team bests in scoring (13.9 ppg) and assists (2.8 apg) and has committed just 11 turnovers in 324 minutes on the floor (2.3 A/TO ratio). He's hit critical 3-pointers in wins over Navy and New Mexico State and is shooting 37.3 percent from deep this season. He is second in the A-10 and 38th nationally in minutes per game (36.1).

WILSON'S DESIGNING A SUPERB INTERIOR PRESENCE
Redshirt-junior AJ Wilson averaged 11.2 minutes in his first two seasons at Mason, but in 2019-29, the Laurel, Md., product has developed into one of the nation's premier offensive rebounders and rim protectors.  The 2019 Cayman Classic MVP is fourth in the country in offensive rebounds/game (4.4) and sixth nationally in blocks/game (3.8). A three-level scorer, Wilson has improved his jump shot in 2019-20 and continues to be an elite finisher around the rim. He's scored 10+ points in six of eight games and has four 10+ rebounding outings to go along with two double-doubles. He posted a career-best 19 points in the Nov. 22 contest at now #3 Maryland.

HISTORY vs. JACKSONVILLE STATE
Mason and Jacksonville State will meet for first time ever in men's basketball on Tuesday night.

HISTORY vs. OVC OPPONENTS
Tuesday's game will mark just the eighth time in program history that Mason has played a current member of the Ohio Valley Conference. The Patriots are 5-2 all time against OVC teams, with the bulk of those meetings coming against Morehead State (3-1). The Patriots also are 2-0 against Austin Peay, including a 66-60 win in 2004 which sent the Patriots to the NIT Sweet 16. Lamar Butler made a Mason NIT record five 3-pointers in the victory.

A LOOK AT THE GAMECOCKS (2-4, 0-0 OVC; KenPom No. 247)
Jacksonville State was picked to finish fourth out of 12 teams in the always competitive Ohio Valley Conference. The Gamecocks went 24-9 last season (15-3 OVC), including two wins over Belmont and a 20-point triumph against Ja Morant's Murray State Racers. Only one starter and five letter winners total return from that team, although the Gamecocks still should be a factor in the OVC this season.  Three of the team's four losses so far this season are against KenPom top-100 foes. JSU most recently split a pair of games in the Emerald Coast Classic, including a 71-62 win over Chicago State and tight 63-60 setback to Chattanooga. Three Gamecocks average 10+ points, led by De'Torrion Ware, who paces the team in scoring (11.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.3 rpg). Jacara Cross chips in 11.5 points per contest, while Derek St. Hilaire tallies 10.2 points and 2.0 assists per game.
 
UP NEXT
Mason remains at home for a Saturday night matchup with American. Tip-off between the Patriots and Eagles is set for 7 p.m.