Box Score (PDF)
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball team dominated from start to finish in a 91-53 victory over Coppin State Friday afternoon inside EagleBank Arena.
The Patriots finished non-conference play in tremendous fashion while tallying the program's largest margin of victory since a January 3, 2009 victory over UNC Wilmington.
"I'm really proud of our guys for responding after as tough a loss as we've had," head coach
Kim English said. "There were lessons learned from Old Dominion that will serve us well in the future. We knew that if our defense was good, that's what would matter. I'm proud of the resiliency of this group."
The defense proved stout through the affair, as Mason held the Eagles to just 29.8 percent (17-57) from the floor and 15 percent from 3pt range (3-20). It marked the first time the Patriots held a foe to less than 30 percent since a January 2021 win over La Salle.
On the other end of the floor, the Patriots shot 50 percent for the game, made a season-best 14 3-pointers on 32 attempts (.438) and converted a much-improved 83.3 percent of their free throw attempts (15-18).
Mason also commanded the glass while holding a +26 (52-26) rebounding advantage. That marked the Patriots' first 50+ rebounding effort since a January 2021 win over Saint Joseph's.
Five Patriots scored 12+ points, led by graduate guard
Victor Bailey Jr. The Austin, Texas product notched 17 points (5-9 FG, 4-7 3pt FG) and dished out a season-high four assists in 26 minutes. Bailey Jr. is averaging 19.7 points/game over the past three contests.
Graduate guard
DeVon Cooper added 15 points (4-8 FG, 3-7 3pt FG) and four assists, while freshman guard
Devin Dinkins registered 14 points and made a career-best four 3-pointers on eight attempts.
Graduate forward
Ginika Ojiako tallied 13 points (6-9 FG) for the second-straight game, while senior
Josh Oduro notched his fourth double-double of the campaign with 12 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
The Patriots raced out to an 18-2 lead and never looked back, ultimately pushing the advantage to 35 (51-16) with 2:39 to go in the first half. The Patriots led by as many as 43 (78-35) in the second half.
Next up, George Mason opens Atlantic 10 play on New Year's Eve against Richmond. Tip-off between the Patriots and Spiders is set for 2 p.m. The game will be televised on MASN2 and streamed on ESPN+.
