Box Score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball team never trailed and received contributions across the roster in Friday night's 83-69 triumph over Longwood before 5,185 fans inside EagleBank Arena.
 
The Lancers – picked to win the Big South after capturing the league crown last season – hung around all night but could not move closer than eight in the second half.
 
George Mason (1-1) shot a sizzling 54.7 percent from the floor (29-53) and hit 9-of-22 3-point attempts (.409). The Patriots also held the Lancers to just 3-of-13 from beyond the arc (.231), which ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.
 
Senior Josh Oduro let the Green & Gold with a game-high 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to record the 10^th double-double of his career. Oduro made 6-of-7 attempts from the floor and also dished out three assists in 31 minutes of work.
 
Graduate student Victor Bailey Jr. added 13 points (3-7 3pt FG) and three assists, while senior Davonte Gaines chipped in 11 points and six rebounds. Freshman Justyn Fernandez tallied the first nine points of his career and made all three of his 3-point attempts in his home debut.
 
The Patriots jumped out to a 10-4 lead, then used a 12-4 spurt to extend the edge to 12 (27-15) at the 9:35 mark of the first half. Mason led 49-38 at the half.
 
In the second stanza, Mason went back up 14 (59-45) after an Oduro jumper, but Longwood cut it to eight (61-53) with 11:17 to go. After a see saw back and forth between eight and 11 points, Mason got it back to 11 at 78-67 with under a minute to and wrapped up the win from there.
 
The Patriots remain at home to host American Sunday inside EagleBank Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.