Box Score (PDF)
FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team could not sustain its first-half offensive execution in a 66-61 setback to VCU Wednesday night inside EagleBank Arena.
The Patriots (5-4, 1-2) led by nine midway the first half and held a 32-31 lead at the break. But VCU opened the half on a 17-5 run that ultimately would give the Rams the margin needed to earn the victory.
Mason shot 41 percent and 42.9 percent from 3-point range in the first half, but could only convert 33.3 percent in the second half (.125 3pt FG).
The Patriots turned 13 offensive rebounds into a 15-6 edge in second chance points, but Mason committed 16 turnovers in the game and could not get key baskets during that VCU spurt.
Sophomore
Josh Oduro led the Patriots with 13 points (5-9 FG) and nine rebounds, while freshman
Tyler Kolek (12 points) scored in double figures for the fourth-straight game.
Redshirt-senior
AJ Wilson added 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks before leaving the game due to injury, while fellow senior
Javon Greene added 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Greene is now 14th on the all-time Mason steals list with 128.
Two triples from Kolek and a third from Greene lifted Mason to an early 14-7 advantage. The Patriots extended the lead to nine (18-9) on an Oduro slam at the 11:54 mark, but VCU used a 9-2 spurt to take a 23-22 advantage. VCU went up 31-28 with less than a minute to go, but free throws from Wilson and a late steal and score from Bahaïde Haïdara gave Mason a 32-31 halftime advantage.
VCU took command of the game in the early second half, utilizing a 17-5 run to build a 48-37 advantage with 12:12 to go. The Rams extended the edge to 15 (56-41), but the Patriots moved back within eight (65-57) on a triple from Kolek with 1:46 remaining. A Greene lay-in cut the lead to five (66-61) with 25 seconds to go, but that's as close as Mason would get, as the Patriots could not score on their final possession.
Mason hosts the other A-10 program from the River City when Richmond comes to town Saturday. Tip-off with the Spiders is scheduled for 12 p.m. inside EagleBank Arena. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.
