FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball team continued to develop its signature defensive identity Friday night during a 67-45 victory over Austin Peay before a boisterous crowd inside EagleBank Arena.
Mason (2-0) held the Governors to just 28.8 percent shooting (17-59), including just 15.8 percent from 3-point range. Austin Peay, which dropped 90 points in its season opener, could muster just 45 against the pressure of the Green & Gold. That's the lowest scoring output by a Patriot foe since Mason limited American to 44 points on December 21, 2021.
Through two games, Mason is holding its opponents to just 31.5 percent (39-124) from the floor.
"With how Austin Peay shoots the 3, I knew if we gave them any type of confidence it was going to be a barnburner," Head Coach Tony Skinn ('06) said. "These guys have been locked in the last two practices. We really set the tone by the first timeout and I'm happy with our effort."
The Governors made 17 triples in their opener but Mason's stout defense limited APSU to 3-of-19 Friday. The Patriots also used their size to grab 13 offensive boards and hold a commanding 18-5 edge in second chance points.
For the second time in as many games, graduate transfer
Amari Kelly led the Green & Gold in scoring. The Norcross, Ga., product tallied 14 points and five rebounds while making 7-of-8 free throw attempts.
Sophomore
Keyshawn Hall added his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes. Junior
Jared Billups chipped in eight points and six rebounds, while freshman
Baraka Okojie added eight points, two rebounds and two assists, including a miraculous 3-pointer to beat the buzzer at the end of the first half.
The Patriots used a 20-3 run early in the opening half to build a 24-7 advantage. Mason extended the edge to 27 (39-12) with 2:01 to go in the stanza and took a 42-15 advantage into the break.
Mason led by as many as 36 (51-15) in the second half.
The Patriots return to action Wednesday night to wrap up their season-opening homestand. Mason hosts a potent Cornell squad at 7:30 p.m. inside EagleBank Arena.
