WHERE: Gentile Arena - Chicago, Ill.
WHEN: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. 
RECORDS: George Mason (18-8, 7-6), Loyola Chicago (19-7, 11-2)
SERIES: George Mason trails,1-2
TELEVISION: USA Network
LIVE VIDEO: Click here
LIVE AUDIO: Click here
LIVE STATS: Click here
GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team (18-8, 7-6) begins a two-game road trip with a Saturday afternoon contest at A-10 leader Loyola Chicago (19-7, 11-2).

Tip-off between the Patriots and Ramblers is set for 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT. Saturday's game will be televised nationally on USA Network, featuring commentary from Steve Burkowski and Tim McCormick. In addition, Bill Rohland will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with streaming coverage beginning at 4:15 p.m. (ET).

PATRIOT POINTS
• The Patriots check in at 79th in Friay's NET rankings. That's the highest Mason has been at this point of the season in program history. The team also is No. 93 in the KenPom rankings.

• The Patriots have won three straight and are coming off a 71-67 win over #16/16 Dayton Wednesday night in Fairfax. It's the highest-ranked regular season win for the Patriots in program history and Mason's first ever triumph over a ranked foe at home.

• Dayton is the highest-ranked opponent to fall at the hands of the Patriots since Mason's 2006 Elite Eight win over No. 2 UConn.

• Freshman Baraka Okojie tallied a career-best 19 points, all of which came in the deciding second half, to lead Mason. The talented rookie is averaging 10.8 points, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and shooting 55.3 percent over the Patriots' past nine games.

• Sophomore Keyshawn Hall added 19 points (9-10 FT) and grabbed six rebounds. He ranks third in the A-10 in scoring in league contests (19.3 ppg). Hall is averaging 8.0 free throws made over the past four games at an 88.9 percent clip (32-36).

• During Mason's 3-game win streak, the Patriots are shooting 49.3 percent from the floor while limiting foes to just 38.7 percent and 63.0 points/game.

• Over the 3-0 stretch, Mason also has enjoyed significant increases in production from reserves Austin Ball (6.0 ppg, 58.3 FG%, 17.9 mpg), Malik Henry (4.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 75.0 FG%, 15.7 mpg) and Tre' Wood (5.0 ppg, 54.5 FG%, 14.0 mpg).

• Senior guard Darius Maddox (13.3 ppg) returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing the previous two contests (ankle). He dished out a team-high four assists in 19 minutes off the bench vs. the Flyers.

• The Green & Gold posted a +6 (33-27) rebounding margin against the Flyers and are now 17-3 when holding the rebounding edge this season. The Patriots have outrebounded their opponent by an average of 9.5 over the past four games and lead the A-10 in overall rebounding margin (+5.0).

• Okojie ranks sixth in the A-10 in steals in league play (1.8) and is eighth amongst all Div. I freshmen in free throw attempts (114).

• Mason ranks 12th nationally in 2pt FG defense (.445), 20th in overall FG defense (.401) and 59th in scoring defense (67.2 ppg). That 40.1 percent FG defense mark ranks fourth best in school history.

• Hall leads the A-10 in defensive rebounds/game (7.6), rebounds/game (8.2) and double-doubles (9). In league play, he is fourth in the A-10 in free throw percentage (.893) and also is shooting 49.1 percent from the floor and 36 percent from 3pt range.

HISTORY vs. LOYOLA CHICAGO
Saturday's game marks the fourth all time matchup between the Patriots and Ramblers in men's basketball. The two teams split a pair of matchups last season during the Ramblers' inaugural campaign in the A-10.

Earlier this  month, in the first game in this season's series, the Ramblers won 85-79 on Feb. 7 in Fairfax. The Patriots made 59.5 percent of their field goal attempts (22-37) and shot 52.9 percent from deep (9-17) while holding a +6 edge at the free throw line. But the Green & Gold turned it over 17 times and Loyola posted a +13 (19-6) advantage in points off turnovers for the game. Keyshawn Hall led the Patriots with a team-best 20 points (5-7 FG, 10-11 FT) to go along with a game-high eight rebounds in 37 minutes. Darius Maddox added 18 points (6-12 FG, 4-7 3pt FG) and three rebounds while Baraka Okojie put together an excellent performance with 15 points (10-14 FT), two assists and two steals.  Graduate forward Amari Kelly chipped in 12 points (4-5 FG, 2-3 3pt FG) and seven rebounds in 37 minutes.

A LOOK AT THE RAMBLERS (15-7, 7-2 A-10; NET #99, KenPom #100)
Loyola Chicago was picked to finish eighth in the A-10 preseason poll but currently sits in a tie for first with an 11-2 league mark. The Ramblers have won six straight. Loyola features the #42 KenPom defense (0.987 points/possession) and allows opponents to shoot an effective field goal percentage of just .464 (23rd nationally). Offensively, Loyola Chicago leads the A-10 and ranks 25th nationally with 16.8 assists/game. Des Watson leads the team with 13.1 points/game and shoots 41.9 percent from 3pt range. Philip Alston adds 13.0 points/game, while Braden Norris ranks third in the A-10 with 4.7 assists/contest. Miles Rubin is fourth in the A-10 and 24th nationally with 2.12 blocks/game.

UP NEXT
The Patriots wrap up their two-game road swing with a trip to the Bronx to take on Fordham Tuesday night (Feb. 27). Tip-off between the Patriots and Rams is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.