FAIRFAX — In the inaugural showdown match held at the Johnson Center, the George Mason (7-0, 5-0) wrestling team earned a 29-9 win against the MAC's Buffalo Bulls to remain unbeaten this season.
 
The Patriots are the only undefeated NCAA Division I team with seven wins and lead the MAC standings with a 5-0 record—their first-ever five-win season in MAC competition. MAC opponent Buffalo (1-3, 0-1) drops its first conference match.
 
It's George Mason's best start since 2022-23 when the team won eight straight to open the season. 
 
Buffalo got on the board first with a decision at 157 pounds. The Bulls Kaleb Burgess earned a 9-6 decision over JT Chance. It would be the only lead on the night.
 
George Mason got on the board after a win at 165 pounds. Redshirt sophomore #24 Evan Maag (8-1, 5-0) continues his dominance on the mat with a technical fall (17-2, 0:00 TF) against the Bulls Hunter Shaut.  Maag got on the board quickly with a near fall and finished the first period with a 14-2 lead. The Patriots had one point deducted from the team score after Maag was accessed an unsportsmanlike conduct. In nine bouts this season, Maag has bonus points in seven matches.
 
The teams would split the next two matches before the Patriots won four straight matches, and five of the final six bouts.
 
Grad student Tyler Kocak (3-1) earned a major decision (12-3) over Lonnell Owens-Pabon from Buffalo. At heavyweight freshman James Blackman remains undefeated in conference play improving to 4-0, 6-2 overall with a technical fall against Robert Unruh (19-2).
 
Redshirt junior Ben Monn (125) won his match, 2-1, earning the riding time point. Monn leads the Patriots with nine wins (9-2, 4-1 MAC).
 
Kaden Cassidy remains unbeaten after with a 5-0 record, all against MAC opponents.
 
The Bulls had previously won all three matches in the history of the series with the Patriots. The last time the two teams met was December 2019, when Buffalo won 26-10.
 
Up Next: George Mason will host the A Better Way Open tournament at the Field House on Sunday beginning at 10 am.

Buffalo
George Mason
Match Results
157 Kaleb Burgess (BU) over JT Chance (GM), Dec. 9-6; Buffalo leads, 3-0
165 #24 Evan Maag (GM) over Hunter Shaut (BU), TF, 17-2 (3:13); GM leads 4-3
174 Logan Messer (GM) over Griffin Ray (BU), MD 9-0, Mason leads 8-3
184 Marcus Petite (BU) over #24 Malachi DuVall (GM), Dec. 7-1; Mason leads 8-6
197 Tyler Kocak (GM) Lonnell Owens-Pabon (BU) MD, 12-3; Mason leads 12-6
285 James Blackman (GM) over Robert Unruh (BU), TF, 18-2 (4:26); Mason leads 17-6

125 Ben Monn (GM) over Max Elton (BU), Dec 2-1; Mason leads 20-6
133 Charles Bunting (GM) over Michael Guigliano (BU), TF (19-2, 2:10); Mason leads 25-6
141 Andy Lucinsky (BU) over Dominic Hargrove (GM), Dec, 8-4; Mason leads 25-9
149 Kaden Cassidy (GM) over Sam Ewing (BU), MD 10-0; Mason wins 29-9