Box Score (PDF)
Photo Credit: Drew Adames
KINGSTON, R.I. – The George Mason University men's basketball team (12-8, 4-3) built a sizable lead in the first half, then responded with a purpose once Rhode Island responded in a 79-72, wire-to-wire win over the Rams Saturday inside the Ryan Center.
The Patriots led 41-26 at the half, but Rhode Island (6-13, 2-5) stormed back to cut the lead to three (62-59) with 7:29 remaining. From that point, Mason kept its composure and locked in on defense to get the lead back up to 11 and hold on for the seven-point victory.
"This is a good win by our group, finding a way to win on the road against a team that's been really good at home," head coach
Kim English said. "We didn't defend in the second half the way we did in the first half and the way we want to. Credit them – they made some great shots, but our guys really responded. They made some stops down the stretch and made some big plays."
Senior
Josh Oduro continued his tear through the Atlantic 10 Saturday while tallying team highs in points (24), rebounds (14), steals (3) and blocks (2). Oduro, the reigning A-10 Player of the Week, also dished out three assists and made 10-of-15 field goal attempts in 26 minutes on the floor.
Graduate guard
DeVon Cooper notched a season-high 20 points (6-9 FG, 5-8 3pt FG) and dished out three assists, while junior guard Ronald Polite registered a game-high eight assists to go along with seven points and five rebounds.
Mason shot an A-10 season-best 54.5 percent against a top-75 effective field goal defensive unit and knocked down 9-of-20 3-pointers (.450). The Patriots also held advantages in points in the paint (34-26) and points off turnovers (19-16) while tallying a +5 edge (35-30) on the glass.
The Patriots scored the first eight points of the game, but a 7-0 spurt by the Rams moved URI within one (15-14) at the 11:39 mark of the half. A 9-0 Mason run pushed the Patriots back in front by 10 (24-14) and an 11-2 spurt to end the period gave the Patriots a 41-26 lead at the break.
Rhode Island used a 8-0 run to climb back within nine (49-40) at the 14:04 mark of the second half. A
Devin Dinkins triple pushed the Patriots back up 12 (60-48), but another 8-0 surge by Rams cut the Patriot lead to four (60-56) with 7:59 to play.
URI was within three (62-59), but at that point, the Patriots rattled off 9-2 run to go back up 10 (71-61) with 5:25 to go. Rhode Island could not move closer than six (76-70) for the remainder of the game.
George Mason remains on the road for a Wednesday contest at VCU. Tip-off in Richmond between the Patriots and Rams is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on MASN and ESPN+.
