Box Score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – A hot start could not propel the George Mason University men's basketball team to victory during a 61-49 defeat to St. Bonaventure Wednesday night in EagleBank Arena.
 
The Patriots made five of their first seven 3-pointers and jumped out to a 19-4 lead six minutes into the game. But after that, Mason could muster just 30 points in the final 34 minutes as the Bonnies took control in the second half with a +16 (34-18) advantage.
 
Mason (11-4, 0-2) now heads to Philadelphia for a battle with La Salle Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
"The Bonnies really turned it up in the second half," head coach Dave Paulsen said. "I don't think I've ever seen a player impact the game so much and score eight points [Osun Osunniyi]. We really struggled against their matchup zone. We got really good looks in the first half and then our guys got a little tentative. We looked tremendous the first 15 minutes, but our toughness getting to the 50-50 balls and battling adversity needs to get better."
 
The Patriots made 7-of-13 3-pointers (.583) in the opening half but made 1-of-10 (.100) in the second half. The Bonnies shot 50 percent from 3 (6-12) in the deciding second half and held a +20 (44-24) edge on the glass. SBU turned 15 offensive rebounds into a 17-5 edge in second chance points.
 
Redshirt-junior AJ Wilson led Mason with 11 points, six rebounds and five blocks. Senior Justin Kier added 11 points (4-8 FG), three assists and made 3-of-6 3-pointers, while Javon Greene tallied nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.