WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: Mason (9-1), American (3-4)
SERIES RECORD: Mason trails, 31-11 (.738)
LAST MEETING: American def. Mason, 78-75 (OT), on Nov. 9, 2018
TELEVISION: MASN2
LIVE VIDEO: Click here
LIVE AUDIO: Click here
LIVE STATS: Click here
GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF) 
TICKETS: Click here

GAME OF THE WEEK: Mason students receive a free glow-in-the-dark Mason cup (with valid ID)
GLOW NIGHT: Mason LED glow bracelet for fans (while supplies last); Halftime glow performance from Masonettes and Mr. Blake Hicks and his amazing Tron Bike

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team (9-1) hosts American for a Saturday night showdown inside EagleBank Arena.

Tip-off between the Patriots and Eagles is set for 7 p.m. Saturday's game will be televised on MASN2, featuring commentary from Bill Rohland and Craig Esherick. In addition, Steve Kolbe will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with pre-game coverage scheduled for 6:45 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
* The Patriots are 9-1 for the first time since 1983-84 (that team started 12-1). Mason began the year 5-0 for the first time in school history, before falling to now #3 Maryland on Nov. 22.

* Mason is coming off a 67-60 victory over Jacksonville State Tuesday night in Fairfax. The win improved the Patriots to 6-0 inside EagleBank Arena this season.

* Sophomore Jordan Miller led the Patriots with 19 points (8-13 FG, 3-4 3pt FG) and five rebounds against the Gamecocks. He's shooting a team-best 45.8 percent from 3-point range this season and has posted at least 19 points in four games.

* Redshirt-junior AJ Wilson added 11 points, eight rebounds and six blocks. It marked his fifth game with at least five rejections this season.

* Wilson is fifth nationally in blocks per contest (3.8) and seventh in offensive rebounds/game (4.3).

* Mason was +10 on the glass against JSU (45-35) and holds a combined +51 (169-118) rebounding edge over the past four contests. Mason now ranks 59th nationally in rebounding margin (+6.2) and is third nationally in total rebounds (417).

* 2019 A-10 Most Improved Player Justin Kier has seen his first action of the season over the past four games as he recovers from a stress fracture in his right foot. His minutes over the four games: 4, 9,16,18.

* With his six blocks vs. JSU, Wilson moved into fifth place on Mason's all-time blocks list (112).

* 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. Against JSU, he tallied 13 points, a team-high nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.

* Freshman Xavier Johnson distributed a career-best eight assists in the win over JSU and is averaging a team-best 5.5/contest over the past two games (he's led the team in assists in both contests).

* Over the final five minutes of games this season, the Patriots are shooting 86.3 percent from the free throw line (44-51).

* Mason has held its opponent to 40 percent shooting or lower in seven games this season. The Patriots are 23rd nationally in 3pt FG defense (.270).

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

A HISTORY OF CLOSING OUT CLOSE ONES
Under head coach Dave Paulsen, Mason has posted an impressive 30-13 record (.698) in games decided by five points or less. In those contests, Mason was 4-3 in 2015-16, 7-3 in 2016-17, 10-1 in 2017-18 and 7-6 in 2018-19. The Patriots are 2-0 in games decided by five points or less so far this season.

HISTORY vs. AMERICAN
Saturday's game marks the 43rd all-time meeting between Mason and American in men's basketball. The Patriots are 17-4 at home, 11-7 at AU and 3-0 on neutral courts against the Eagles. Mason has won 13 of the last 14 in the series. The two foes battled as members of the CAA from 1985-2000. The Patriots swept the Eagles during Mason's 1998-99 NCAA Tournament season, including a 73-48 win in the CAA Tournament. The two teams have played five times in non-conference play since 2000, including a 75-35 win at the BB&T Classic during the 2006 Final Four season (12/5/05). Mason and American met last season, with the Eagles taking a 78-75 overtime triumph inside EagleBank Arena. Javon Greene led Mason with a double-double (18 points, career-best 12 rebounds) in that contest.

HISTORY vs. PATRIOT LEAGUE OPPONENTS
Mason is 69-33 (.676) all time against teams currently in the Patriot League. The Patriots' most common opponents are American (31-11), Navy (16-9) and Loyola (8-6). The Green & Gold have posted a 7-4 record against head coach Dave Paulsen's former team - Bucknell. Mason already has played a pair of Patriot League opponents this season, claiming victories over Navy (68-55) and Loyola (65-61).

A LOOK AT THE EAGLES (3-4, 0-0 PATRIOT; KenPom No. 208)
American was picked to finish third out of 10 teams in the 2019-20 Patriot League preseason poll. The Eagles are 3-4 to start the season, including wins at George Washington (67-65) and over UMBC (85-61). American is a top-50 3-point shooting team (.378) and shoots a solid 51.8 percent from inside the arc (95th nationally). The Eagles are led by Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year Sa'eed Nelson, who leads the team in scoring (18.7 ppg), assists (4.2 apg) and is second in the country with 3.5 steals per contest. Three other Eagles average 10+ points, including junior Jamir Harris (12.7 ppg, 40.9 3pt FG%), sophomore Jacob Boonyasith (12.7 ppg, 50.0 3pt FG%) and  junior Stacy Beckton Jr. (10.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg).
 
UP NEXT
Mason takes a two-week competitive break for final exams before returning to EagleBank Arena on Saturday, December 21. The Patriots will take on UMBC at 4 p.m. on MASN.

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