DURHAM, N.C. – The George Mason University men's basketball team showcased its top-50 defense in one of the nation's toughest venues Tuesday night, but the Patriot offense couldn't match that execution during a 68-47 loss at No. 5/5 Duke inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.
 
The Patriots limited the Blue Devils' top-12 offense to a season-low 37.5 percent (21-56) from the floor and won the rebounding battle (43-42) against the nation's tallest team. Duke's 25 first half points also marked a season low for the Blue Devils this season.
 
But on the offensive end, GM hit a season-low 29.4 percent of its attempts and went 2-of-17 from 3-point range against the nation's second-ranked defense.
 
"They did a phenomenal job of just taking us out of our actions," head coach Tony Skinn ('06) said. "I think at one point they were shooting 30 percent from the field. You can't ask for more than that in this atmosphere. We just couldn't make shots, and we have to learn from it."
 
Senior Jalen Haynes paced the Patriots with his sixth-straight double figure scoring effort. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., product notched a team-best 18 points (9-19 FG) to go along with seven rebounds, including five on the offensive end.
 
Senior Darius Maddox added 12 points, three rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes for the Green & Gold.
 
GM outscored Duke 28-22 in the paint and held a 16-10 edge in second chance points in the night. But the Blue Devils turned 13 GM turnovers into a 16-4 edge in points off turnovers for the game.
 
Cooper Flagg scored a game-high 24 points on 20 shots for Duke while adding nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.
 
The two teams combined to start 6-of-28 from the floor as Duke took an 8-6 advantage at the 12:26 mark of the first half. Duke pushed the lead to nine (20-11) with 7:40 to play in the stanza, but five straight from the Patriots cut it to four at 20-16. The Blue Devils took a 25-16 lead into the break.
 
The Blue Devils opened the second half on an 11-2 run to build a 36-18 advantage with 16:36 to go. GM held Duke scoreless for more than four minutes while pulling back within 12 (40-28) with 10:11 remaining, but the Blue Devils scored 14 of the next 20 points to go up 20 at 54-34.

GM moved back within 15 (54-39) with 4:31 left, but could not get closer than that for the remainder of the game.
 
George Mason returns to EagleBank Arena for a Sunday matinee against Penn. Tip-off on Dec. 22 between the Patriots and Quakers is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.