Box Score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – Despite a historically poor shooting performance, the defensive-minded George Mason University men's basketball team (13-3, 2-1) had a last second chance to win Tuesday night against VCU (9-7, 1-2) but could not convert as the Rams held on for a 54-50 victory inside EagleBank Arena.
 
Mason led 50-47 with 1:50 left, but could not score for the remainder of the game, as VCU tallied the final seven points of the contest.
 
The Patriots held the Rams to just 35.3 percent shooting (18-51) overall and 23.1 percent (6-26) in the second half. But the Green & Gold went 0-for-15 from 3pt range and could not score on their final four possessions. It marked the first time the Patriots were held without a 3-pointer since February 2009. 
 
"This is VCU vs. George Mason," head coach Tony Skinn ('06) said. "VCU was desperate. That's a good team trying to figure it out. At the end of the day, we still had a chance to win that game despite going 0-for-15 from 3. You can't ask for a better opportunity than that. This is a tough one."
 
Sophomore Keyshawn Hall paced the Patriots with a game-high 14 points (6-12 FG) to go along with four rebounds, while graduate forward Amari Kelly added 10 points (5-8 FG) and seven rebounds. Senior Ronald Polite III added eight points.
 
The Patriots held a +10 (32-22) edge in points in the paint for the game and a +6 (8-2) advantage in second chance points.
 
Mason led 18-12 at the 9:38 mark of the first half and 24-20 with 5:12 to go in the stanza. VCU used a 6-0 run to move in front 26-24 and led 30-27 at the break.
 
The Patriots tallied their own 6-0 run to move back in front 40-36 with 12 minutes to play, but VCU pushed back in front by three (45-42) with 5:03 to go. Mason's 8-2 spurt gave the Patriots the 50-47 lead, but from there VCU got the steps necessary to take the lead one more time and hang on for the victory.
 
George Mason hits the road for a two-game swing. First up is a contest at Richmond on Saturday (Jan. 13). Tip-off between the Patriots and Spiders is set for 6 p.m. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.