WHERE: Gentile Arena - Chicago, Ill.
WHEN: Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
RECORDS: George Mason (13-10, 5-5), Loyola Chicago (7-14, 1-8)
SERIES: George Mason leads, 1-0
TELEVISION: USA Network
LIVE VIDEO: Click here
LIVE AUDIO: Click here
LIVE STATS: Click here
GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team (13-10, 5-5) makes its second trip to the Windy City this season to battle Loyola Chicago on Saturday in Rogers Park.

Tip-off between the Patriots and Ramblers is set for 2:30 p.m. (ET). Saturday's game will be broadcast nationally on USA Network, featuring commentary from Kevin Lee and former La Salle head coach Dr. John Giannini. In addition, Bill Rohland will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with pre-game coverage beginning at 2:15 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
• The Patriots are coming off a defensive-minded, 70-59 triumph over UMass on Wednesday in Fairfax. Mason held the Minutemen to 36.9 percent shooting, an A-10 season low for a Patriot opponent. 

• Freshman Justyn Fernandez put together his best game to date while tallying a career-best with 18 points (5-8 FG, 3-4 3pt FG) to go along with five rebounds in 28 minutes. He's averaging 9.0 points and shooting 41.7 percent from 3 over the Patriots' last six games. 

• Senior Josh Oduro added 15 points (6-9 FG) and nine rebounds. The 2022 First Team All-A-10 selection leads the league with 9.9 rebounds/contest in conference play, is third in scoring (18.1 ppg) and 15th in assists (3.0 apg). Oduro also leads the league in offensive boards/contest in A-10 play (3.89). 

• Graduate guard DeVon Cooper dished out eight assists, and in the process, became just the 12th player to reach the 300-assist plateau in a Mason uniform. Cooper is fifth in the A-10 in assist/turnover ratio (1.78). 

• Wednesday's effort showcased a welcome return to form for the Patriots on the defensive end. Prior to the win, Mason foes were averaging 75.3 points/game and shooting 47.5 percent from the floor (.382 3pt FG) over the previous four games. 
 
• Oduro is just the fourth player in school history with 1,200 career points, 600 rebounds, 100 blocks and 100 assists. 

• Amongst players nationally 6-foot-9 and above, Oduro ranks seventh in assists (68). 

• Junior Malik Henry has started two consecutive games. He notched eight points (4-5 FG) to go along with six rebounds in the win over UMass. He is averaging 7.1 points and shooting 67.6 percent over the past eight games. 

• Mason leads the A-10 and ranks 53rd nationally in 3pt FG percentage (.366). That's the fifth-best mark in school history.

• Over the past two games, Mason foes are shooting just 25.5 percent (12-47) from long distance. The Patriots rank 42nd nationally in 3pt defense this season (.306).

YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE ON THE SIDELINES
Saturday's game features the youngest and third youngest head coaches in Division I men's college basketball. Loyola Chicago head coach Drew Valentine is the youngest at 31 years of age, while George Mason bench boss Kim English is third youngest at 34 years old.

HISTORY vs. LOYOLA CHICAGO
Saturday's game marks both the second meeting this season and second meeting all time between George Mason and Loyola Chicago in men's basketball. The Patriots won the first matchup on Jan. 7 in Fairfax this season. Mason captured an 86-75 victory while shooting 51.6 percent from the floor. That included a 62.1 percent clip (18-29) in a second half in which the Patriots held a +11 (51-40) scoring average.

Josh Oduro led George Mason with  17 points, 12 rebounds and two assists in just 23 minutes due to foul trouble. DeVon Cooper added 17 points and five rebounds, while Victor Bailey Jr. chipped in 14 points (4-6 3pt FG). Malik Henry played his best game in a Patriot uniform, notching career bests in points (15) and blocks (3) while grabbing five rebounds in a season-high 17 minutes.

A LOOK AT THE RAMBLERS (7-14, 1-8 A-10; NET #272, KenPom #237)
New A-10 member Loyola Chicago was picked to finish fourth in the league's preseason poll. The Ramblers went 6-6 in the non-conference, highlighted by a 76-58 win over top-60 foe Clemson. The Ramblers are 1-8 to begin A-10 play. Loyola Chicago ranks second in the A-10 and 53rd nationally in field goal percentage (.470), but the Ramblers have struggled defensively in A-10 play, where the team is allowing 79.4 points/game and allowing opponents to shoot 49.8 percent from the floor. Philip Alston leads the team in scoring (14.9 ppg) and grabs 5.7 rebounds/contest while shooting 45.8 percent from 3pt range. Braden Norris adds 10.4 points/game and ranks seventh in the league with 4.2 assists/contest. 

UP NEXT
George Mason heads to the Steel City for a Wednesday night contest at Duquesne. The 7 p.m. matchup will be broadcast on ESPN+.