Box Score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball team utilized a relentless defensive effort to power past NC Central 75-58 on Monday night in the home opener for both teams.
 
The Patriots held the Eagles to just 5-of-30 (.167) shooting in the first half and utilized a 17-0 run in that opening frame to build a 10-point edge (32-22) at the break.
 
Overall, the Green & Gold held NCCU to 28.1 percent (16-57) and just 5-of-21 (.238) from 3-point range.
 
The Patriots dominated the glass (48-28) and held significant advantages in points in the paint (32-20) and second chance points (18-12).
 
Despite struggling from 3pt range (2-17, .118) and committing 17 turnovers, the Patriots remained locked in defensively, which kept the lead 10+ for the entirety of the second half. GM led by as many as 21 (70-49) in the stanza.
 
Senior guard Darius Maddox scored 13 of his game-high 17 points in the second half to go along with five rebounds in 31 minutes. Senior Jalen Haynes added 11 points (4-5 FG), while juniors Brayden O'Connor and Giovanni Emejuru also tallied 11 points.
 
Senior guard Jared Billups grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to go with eight points, two assists and two steals, while senior K.D. Johnson dished out a team-best four assists in 17 minutes of action.
 
In a game that featured 49 fouls, the Patriots took 41 free throws and made 31 (.750), while holding a +10 edge from the charity stripe.
 
The victory improves the Patriots to 15-3 at home under head coach Tony Skinn. The program has won 29 of its past 34 games inside EagleBank Arena.