WHEN: Thursday, 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: Barclays Center - Brooklyn, N.Y.
RECORDS: #12 seed George Mason (17-15), #5 St. Bonaventure (19-12)
SERIES RECORD: Mason trails, 3-10
TELEVISION: NBCSN
LIVE VIDEO: Click here
LIVE AUDIO: Click here
LIVE STATS: Click here
GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)

Photo Credit: Mitchell Leff

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The George Mason University men's basketball team will match up with fifth-seeded St. Bonaventure Thursday inside the Barclays Center.

Tip-off between the Patriots and Bonnies is set for 2:30 p.m. Thursday's game will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network, featuring commentary from Todd Harris (PxP), Tim McCormick (color), David Kaplan (sideline) and Corey Robinson (sideline). In addition, Bill Rohland will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with streaming coverage beginning at 2:15 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
* The Patriots are 3-0 all time in the A-10 second round, with victories in each of the past three seasons. Mason was 0-3 in the A-10 first round until defeating Saint Joseph's 77-70 on Wednesday.

* With a win, Mason would move on to play No. 4 Saint Louis on Friday at 2:30 p.m. inside the Barclays Center.

* The Patriots have won an A-10 Tournament game in each of the past four seasons under head coach Dave Paulsen after the program posted an 0-3 mark in its first three seasons in the league.

* In Wednesday's win over Saint Joseph's, Mason held a dominant +19 edge on the glass (47-28) and shot 48.3 percent (29-60) from the floor.

* 2020 A-10 Most Improved Player AJ Wilson led the Patriots with a career-best 24 points (10-16 FG) against the Hawks while pulling down nine rebounds and two blocks. His effort was just two points off the all-time individual Mason scoring mark in the A-10 Tournament (26 pts - Justin Kier in last season's second round).

* Wilson has averaged 15.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in four neutral site games for George Mason this season.

* Jordan Miller reached double figures for the 12th-straight game vs. SJU. He tallied 19 points, seven rebounds and made 8-of-11 2-point attempts.  He's averaging 17 points, seven rebounds, 2.8 assists and shooting 55.3 percent (26-47) from the floor over Mason's past four contests.

* Javon Greene posted 14 points, nine rebounds and made 7-of-8 free throw attempts vs. SJU. He finished A-10 play ranked 10th in the league in scoring (14.9 ppg) and fourth in steals (1.8 spg).

* Wilson's A-10 Most Improved Player honor marked the third time in four seasons a Mason player has received the award. Injured Mason senior Justin Kier was the recipient in 2019, while former Patriot standout Marquise Moore earned the honor in 2017.

* Patriot foes are averaging just 6.6 offensive rebounds/game over the past five contests. Mason has held its opponent to 10 offensive boards or less in 14 of the past 16 games.

* After struggling to defend the 3 early in conference play (.387 thru nine games), Mason held its opponents to a combined 28.9 percent (57-197) over the past 10 games.

* Junior Javon Greene is tied for eighth on Mason's single season steals list with 55 in 2019-20. He needs three during the A-10 Tournament to move into sixth all time.

* The Patriots' 149 blocks this season rank as the second-highest single season total in school history.  In addition, Mason's .315 3-point field goal defense this season ranks fourth best in school annals.

HISTORY AS THE #12 SEED
Mason improved to 1-1 all time in the A-10 Tournament as the No. 12 seed after defeating Saint Joseph's 77-70 on Wednesday in Brooklyn. In the team's only other season as the No. 12, Mason fell to No. 13 Saint Louis 83-78 in 2016 at the Barclays Center. Mason played in the A-10 opening round Wednesday for the first time since 2016. The Patriots have posted a top-7 seed (No. 7 in 2017 and No. 5 in 2018 and 2019) in each of the past three campaigns, but a total of 91 games missed by Mason players due to injuries in 2020 have played a major factor in the Patriots' season.  

HISTORY vs. ST. BONAVENTURE
Thursday's matchup marks the 14th all-time meeting between Mason and SBU. The Bonnies hold a 10-3 advantage in the series, including a 9-1 mark since Mason joined the A-10 in 2013-14. Thursday marks the second time in as many seasons that the two teams have matched up in Brooklyn. St. Bona won last season's A-10 quarterfinal matchup 68-57 at the Barclays Center. This season, SBU swept the two regular season meetings, winning 68-57 in Olean and 61-49 in Fairfax. Javon Greene averaged 13 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the two meetings with the Bonnies this season, while Jordan Miller averaged 11.5 points in the two games.

A LOOK AT THE BONNIES (19-12, 11-7 A-10; NET No. 121, KenPom No. 125)
The Bonnies were picked to finish fifth in the 2019-20 A-10 preseason poll and did just that with an 11-7 conference mark. St. Bonaventure is led by First Team All-A-10 selection Kyle Lofton, who paces the team in scoring with 14.1 points game and also leads the A-10 in assists/game, averaging 6.0 (20th nationally). Jaren English (11.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Dominic Welch (11.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg) also average double figures for the Bonnies, while A-10 All-Defensive Team selection Osun Osunniyi chips in 10.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per contest.

UP NEXT
With a victory, Mason would move on to the A-10 quarterfinals for a contest against No. 4 seed Saint Louis. That game would tip at 2:30 p.m. on Friday (Mar. 13) and be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network.

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