PHILADELPHIA – The George Mason University men's basketball team (15-6, 4-4) nearly stole a win inside Hagan Arena Wednesday night but could not quite get over the hump in a 75-73 setback to Saint Joseph's (14-7, 4-4).
Mason had a chance to win it with under 20 seconds to play, but could not convert on its final possession. Key Saint Joseph's runs in each half – 7-0 in the first and 13-4 in the second – ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.
"That one was on me," head coach Tony Skinn ('06) said. "It was probably two or three possessions I went away from some things that have won us some games. We also made some bonehead plays down the stretch that just took the air out of our effort of taking control of this game."
Sophomore
Keyshawn Hall led the Patriots with a game-high 19 points to go along with eight rebounds and two assists.
Graduate forward
Amari Kelly added 18 points (7-13 FG), eight rebounds and two assists while freshman
Baraka Okojie dazzled with 14 points (5-9 FG) to go along with a career-high six assists and four steals.
The Patriots shot 55.6 percent in the second half and made 7-of-14 3pt attempts. But the Hawks shot a blistering 64 percent in the final stanza and 50.9 percent overall for the game.
After not allowing an opponent to shoot 50 percent from the floor over the first 19 games of the season, Mason's foes have now made 50+ percent of their attempts in back to back contests.
The Hawks jumped out to a 19-15 lead, but Mason grabbed a 29-25 advantage after a Hall lay-in with 3:13 to play in the half. The Patriots led 32-27, but Saint Joseph's scored the final seven points of the stanza to take a 34-32 edge into the break.
The Patriots used a 10-3 run early in the second half to retake the lead at 44-42. Saint Joseph's moved back in front 53-49 with 10:08 to go, but Mason responded to tie it up at 57.
Back-to-back triples from Hall and Kelly pushed the Patriots ahead 63-59 with 6:29 to go, but from there, a 13-4 run by the Hawks gave SJU a 72-67 lead with 1:12 remaining.
After an Okojie free throw, the Patriots picked up a key steal on the ensuing Hawks possession and a Hall lay-in cut it to 72-70. Then, SJU threw it out of bounds and the Patriots had a chance to take the lead with 20 seconds to go.
But Mason could not convert on its next possession, and SJU hit free throws on the other end to effectively seal the win.
George Mason wraps up its two-game road swing with a trip to Amherst to battle UMass. Tip-off on Saturday (Feb. 3) between the Patriots and Minutemen is set for 12 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
