WHEN: Monday, 1 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena - Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: George Mason (2-1, 0-0), VMI (5-3, 0-0)
SERIES RECORD: Series tied, 1-1
LAST MEETING: Mason def. VMI, 89-86, on Dec. 22, 2009
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FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team returns to EagleBank Arena Monday afternoon to take on VMI in the team's first game in 23 days.

Tip-off between the Patriots and Keydets is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday'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 streaming coverage beginning at 12:45 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
• Mason canceled five games during its two-week COVID-19 pause, but has added two at the end of December. That includes Monday's contest vs. VMI and a Dec. 26 home game vs. Norfolk State.

• The Patriots went 2-1 in the DC Paradise Jam to begin the season, wrapping up the event with an 84-70 triumph over Howard on Nov. 28.

• In the win over the Bison, Mason hit a school record 17 3-pointers on just 42 attempts (.405). It's the first time the Patriots made more than 15 3-pointers in a game since 1994. The triple barrage came just a day after Mason went 2-of-23 from deep (.087) in a setback against Belmont.

• Junior Jordan Miller led Mason with a career-best 30 points against Howard, including knocking down a personal-best eight 3-pointers on 10 attemps (.800). He added eight rebounds.

• Miller was named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team after averaging 20 points, 7.0 rebounds and shooting 56.4 percent in the event. His season KenPom offensive rating of 143.7 ranks 41st nationally, while his true shooting percentage (.768) and effective field goal percentage (.750) are 29th and 31st, respectively.

• The Green & Gold are +2.3 in turnover margin through three games and committed just seven against Howard.

• Jamal Hartwell II dished out a career-best nine assists in the win vs. Howard and is currently eighth in the A-10 in assists/game. Hartwell II's nine dimes marked the most by a Patriot since Otis Livingston II had 10 in a win over William & Mary on Dec. 1, 2018.

• With four more blocks, redshirt-senior AJ Wilson will tie Andre Gaddy and Mike Morrison for second on the all-time Mason blocks list.

• After averaging 4.9 points as a freshman, sophomore Josh Oduro averaged 10 points and shot 56 percent from the floor in DC.

• Sophomore guard Bahaïde Haïdara ranks third in the A-10 and 53rd nationally with 3.33 offensive rebounds/game.

• Through three games, Mason ranks 19th nationally in 2-point field goal percentage (.590).

HISTORY vs. VMI
Mason and VMI, despite being in-state foes, will meet for just the third time Monday. The teams last played on December 22, 2009, with Mason earning an 89-86 victory in Fairfax. Sherrod Wright led Mason with 24 points, Ryan Pearson added a double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds) and current Mason graduate manager Isaiah Tate chipped in 12 points in the win.

HISTORY vs. SOCON OPPONENTS
Mason has posted a 6-6 (.500) all-time record against current members of the Southern Conference. The Patriots' most common foes are UNCG (3-0), Mercer (2-1), VMI (1-1) and East Tennessee State (0-2). Mason last played a SoCon school on December 3, 2016, when the Patriots knocked off Mercer 79-68 in EagleBank Arena. It was the fifth victory in Mason's nine-game non-conference winning streak during the 2016-17 season.

A LOOK AT THE KEYDETS (5-3, KenPom #252)
VMI was picked to finish ninth out of 10 teams in the 2020-21 Southern Conference preseason poll. The Keydets are 5-3 to begin the year, including wins over Longwood (84-71) and Hampton (79-64). Two of the Keydets' three losses have come to Power 5 teams, with setbacks at Virginia Tech (64-57) and Penn State (86-65). The Keydets score 37.3 percent of their points from beyond the arc, which ranks 45th nationally. They make 11.8 triples per game (5th nationally) and shoot 80.3 percent from the free throw line (15th nationally). VMI also is 305th nationally in defensive efficiency (1.059 points allowed/possession). Senior guard Greg Parnham leads the team in scoring (15.1 ppg) and has made 21 of 42 3-point attempts (.500, 22nd nationally) on the season. Sophomore guard Kamdyn Curfman adds 13.1 points/game, shoots 50.9 percent from deep (20th nationally) and has made 27 3-pointers on the year (7th nationally). Senior guard Myles Lewis averages 11.1 points and 8.3 rebounds and has tallied three double-doubles on the season.

UP NEXT
Mason continues its three-game homestand with a 4 p.m. contest vs. Towson on Wednesday (Dec. 23). The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.