WHEN: Wednesday, 4 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena - Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: George Mason (3-1, 0-0), Towson (0-3, 0-0)
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads, 32-11
LAST MEETING: Towson def. Mason, 67-61, on Nov. 12, 2016, in EagleBank Arena
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FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team (3-1) plays its second contest in a three-game homestand Wednesday when the Patriots battle Towson.

Tip-off inside EagleBank Arena is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+, featuring commentary from Bill Rohland. In addition, Rohland will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with streaming coverage beginning at 3:45 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
• In Monday's 68-66 win over VMI, Mason trailed by 15 in the first half, but used a 33-12 run to take control of the game. Poor free throw shooting (9-21) down the stretch kept the margin close against the Keydets.

• After scoring two points total in his first two games, redshirt-senior AJ Wilson exploded for a game-high 22 points vs. the Keydets. He added 10 rebounds to notch his eighth career double-double, while knocking down a career-best three 3-pointers and adding four blocks.

• With his fourth block, Wilson tied Andre Gaddy and Mike Morrison for second on the all-time Mason blocks list (174). His 3.3 blocks/game this season rank fourth nationally.

• Freshman Tyler Kolek added career highs in points (11), steals (5) and minutes (32) against VMI while logging his first career start. He is second on the team in 3pt FG made and third in assists.

• The Green & Gold are +2.0 in turnover margin this season and have committed less miscues than their opponent in each game of 2020-21.

• Sophomore guard Bahaïde Haïdara ranks third in the A-10 and 65th nationally with 3.0 offensive rebounds/game, despite playing just 9.3 minutes per contest.

• Mason is getting 38.4 percent of its scoring from 3-pointers this season, which ranks 37th-most nationally. This comes in stark contrast to the Patriots' first five seasons under Paulsen, when Mason on average has ranked 289th nationally in percentage of points which come from beyond the arc.

• The Patriots shot just 2-of-23 from deep on Nov. 27 vs. Belmont. In Mason's other three games, the Green & Gold have made 38.6 percent (32-83) of their 3-point attempts.

• Mason's top-three assist men - Jamal Hartwell II, Xavier Johnson and Tyler Kolek - have combined for 32 assists and just 11 turnovers through four games (2.9 A/10 ratio).

HISTORY vs. TOWSON
Mason and Towson will meet for the 44th time on the court Wednesday. Mason leads the all-time series 32-11, although the Tigers have won the past two meetings. The programs meet Wednesday for the first time since Nov. 12, 2016. In that season opener at EagleBank Arena, Towson came out on top, 67-61. Jalen Jenkins led Mason with 19 points (9-11 FG) and seven rebounds in the contest.

A LOOK AT THE TIGERS (0-3, KenPom #223)
Towson was picked to finish fourth in the CAA preseason poll and received four first-place votes. The Tigers opened the season with three losses in the competitive Bubbleville at Mohegan Sun, falling to Virginia (89-54), San Francisco (79-68) and Buffalo (74-65). Towson then paused its season due to a positive COVID-19 test within the program. Towson ranks 323th nationally in adjusted tempo and averages 19.6 seconds per possession (320th). The Tigers have given up 1.053 points/possession through three games (289th nationally). Towson averages 13.33 offensive rebounds/contest (41st nationally). Redshirt-senior Zane Martin leads the Tigers with 19.3 points and 3.7 assists per contest. Redshirt-sophomore Nicholas Timberlake adds 11.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.  

UP NEXT
Mason wraps up non-conference play on Saturday with a 4 p.m. home contest vs. Norfolk State. The Patriots open A-10 play at UMass on December 30.