Box Score (PDF)
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball (8-2) shook off a rare cold night from the field and locked in for a defensive-minded, 62-54 victory over Loyola (Md.) on Saturday night inside EagleBank Arena.
The victory improved the Green & Gold to 6-0 at home this season and 8-2 overall.
Despite shooting a season-low 25 percent from deep and 38.8 percent overall, the Patriots played to their pedigree on the defensive end while limiting the Greyhounds to 31 percent shootingoverall (18-58) and 26.1 percent (6-23) from 3pt range.
That marked a season-low by a Patriot opponent this season.
"It's been a long 11 days [in between games]," head coach Tony Skinn ('06) said. "There were a lot of jitters tonight and we had to recalibrate. We ended up in a dog fight, but at the end of the day, to still be 8-2 and come out with the win, I'm happy."
Mason played without the services of
Malik Henry Saturday night, as well as
Amari Kelly for most of the game. In the absence of Mason's usual frontcourt presence, a number of Patriots stepped up to give the Green & Gold a 30-20 edge in points in the paint.
Sophomore
Keyshawn Hall paced the Patriots with his A-10-leading fifth double-double of the season, notching game highs in points (17) and rebounds (13) over 33 minutes.
Senior
Darius Maddox added 13 points (2-5 3pt FG) and went a perfect 7-7 from the free throw line, while junior
Jared Billups chipped in 10 points and a season-high eight rebounds, including five on the offensive end.
Senior
Woody Newton also stepped up in the frontcourt while notching eight points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes.
Mason held a +5 (41-36) edge on the glass and turned 11 offensive rebounds into a 14-6 advantage in second chance points.
The Green & Gold led by as many as 14 (30-16) in the first half and took a 32-23 edge into the break.
Loyola opened the second half on a 6-0 run to move within three (32-29). Mason increased the edge back to seven at 42-35, but a 9-0 spurt by the Greyhounds pushed them in front, 44-42, with 8:44 to play.
But from there, the Patriots raced back with a 12-1 run to go up 54-45 with 3:55 left. The Greyhounds could not move closer than six for the remainder of the game.
The Patriots wrap up a two-game homestand with a Tuesday night contest vs. Bridgewater (Va.). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
