WHEN: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Siegel Center - Richmond, Va.
RECORDS: George Mason (13-12, 6-6), VCU (18-7, 11-3)
SERIES: VCU leads, 44-22
TELEVISION: MASN2
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LIVE AUDIO: Click here
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GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)

RICHMOND, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team plays the back half of a home-and-home series vs. VCU Wednesday with a trip to the Siegel Center.

Tip-off between the Patriots and Rams is set for 7 p.m. inside the Siegel Center. Wednesday's contest will be broadcast on MASN2 and ESPN+, featuring commentary from Scott Jackson and Ed Nixon. In addition, Bill Rohland will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with streaming coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
• Mason is coming off a 50-47 loss at Fordham on Sunday. The Patriots led 45-41 with under eight minutes to go, but scored one field goal in the final 7:31 of action.

• Xavier Johnson led Mason with career bests in points (19) and 3pt FG made (5) Sunday. He is averaging 11 3pt FG attempts over the past two games after attempting 2.5/game over the first 21.

• Johnson is averaging 5.4 assists in A-10 play. His 4.9 assists/game overall marks the highest average by a Patriot since Terry Reynolds in 2003-04.  

• Junior Josh Oduro (18.2 ppg) leads the A-10 in scoring and is third in FG percentage (.545) He has tallied 10 20+ point games this season. His four 30+ point efforts mark the most by a Patriot since Curtis McCants in 1995-96.

• If Oduro finishes the season ranked first in the A-10 in scoring, he'd claim Mason's first individual conference scoring title since George Evans in 1998-99 (17.2 ppg). Oduro's season average (18.2 ppg) is the highest by a Patriot since Evans in 2000-01 (18.4 ppg).

• In league play, Oduro averages 20.0 ppg (1st in A-10) and 8.0 rebounds per game (8th). In A-10 contests, he also is fifth in blocks (2.2 per game).

• One of the nation's top-40 3pt shooting teams (.370), the Patriots are making just 30.1 percent (25-83) of their attempts over the past three contests.

• In A-10 games, Mason foes are shooting 36.1 percent from deep against the Green & Gold (11th in A-10).

• Mason is a perfect 9-0 when winning the turnover battle this season and 4-10 when its opponent holds the turnover edge.

HISTORY vs. VCU
Wednesday's game marks the 67th all-time meeting between old CAA and current A-10 foes George Mason and VCU. Mason is 13-15 at home, 8-22 on the road and 1-7 on neutral courts vs. VCU (22-44 overall). The Patriots have won three of the past four matchups at the Siegel Center. In the most recent matchup earlier this season, VCU won at Mason, 85-70, on Feb. 12. Davonte Gaines registered 16 points (4-8 FG), three assists and two steals, while DeVon Cooper added 14 points (4-8 3pt FG). Junior point guard Xavier Johnson chipped in 11 points and dished out a team-best nine assists in 39 minutes.

HISTORY vs. IN-STATE, DIVISION I OPPONENTS
Monday's game marks the 411th all time contest for Mason against an in-state, Div. I foe. The Patriots are 191-219 (.466) vs. Commonwealth opponents over the past 54 seasons. Harkening back to its CAA history, Mason's most common in-state opponents are James Madison (49-51), William & Mary (40-28), Richmond (26-41), VCU (22-44) and Old Dominion (22-37).

A LOOK AT THE RAMS (18-7, 11-3 A-10; KenPom 70, NET 58)
VCU was picked fourth in the 2021-22 A-10 preseason poll. The Rams tallied a 7-4 non-conference mark, highlighted by wins over Vanderbilt and Syracuse, and are 11-3 to begin A-10 action. VCU ranks fifth nationally in defensive efficiency (0.883 points/possession)The Rams also lead the A-10 and rank second nationally in 3pt FG percentage defense (.269) and turn their opponent over on 25.4 percent of possessions (fourth nationally). Vince Williams leads the team in scoring (13.2 ppg) and rebounding (5.9 rpg). Point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. adds 10.9 points and a team-best 5.5 assists per contest.

UP NEXT
Mason returns home for a Revolutionary Rivalry contest vs. George Washington Sunday. The 2:30 p.m. contest inside EagleBank Arena will be broadcast nationally on USA Network.