BRONX, N.Y. – The George Mason University men's basketball team (18-10, 7-8) held a 14-point lead in the second half, but a barrage of 3-pointers by Fordham (12-16, 6-9) ultimately pushed the Rams past the Patriots by the score of 61-60 Tuesday night inside Rose Hill Gymnasium.
Fordham went 10-of-17 (.588) from 3pt range in the second half and made 7-of-8 triples during a stretch that ultimately erased a 40-26 Mason lead with 12:22 remaining. The Patriots held a 60-58 edge with 24 seconds left, but a second chance 3-pointer with six seconds to go by the Rams proved to be the difference in the game.
The Patriots limited the Rams to a paltry 21.2 percent (7-33) from the floor in the opening half but could not carry that defensive pressure into the second.
Mason enjoyed a 42-33 edge on the glass and was +20 (30-10) in points in the paint. But the Rams poured in 36 points from deep while Mason mustered 15 from beyond the arc.
Sophomore
Keyshawn Hall led the Patriots with 15 points while senior
Darius Maddox added 13 points (4-8 FG), five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Graduate forward
Amari Kelly posted eight points, a team-high eight rebounds and tied his career best with four blocks, while
Austin Ball chipped in seven points.
The offensive struggle was real over the first 12 minutes of play as both teams combined for just 15 points (an 8-7 Mason lead). Five straight from the Rams pushed Fordham in front by four (12-8), but the Patriots responded with a 6-0 spurt to go up 16-12. Mason led 19-18 at the break.
With the Patriots ahead 28-24 early in the second half, Mason rattled off a 12-2 run to build a 40-26 advantage with 12:22 remaining.
Mason led by 12 at 44-32, but at that point, the Rams started stroking it from 3-point range and began a comeback. Fordham scored 20 of the next 27 points in the contest to surge back in front 52-51 with 4:34 left.
The Patriots went back up three at 56-53 with 3:31 to go, but the Rams scored five straight to take a 58-56 lead with 2:34 left.
A nice hook shot in the lane from Kelly tied it up at 58-58, then Kelly rebounded a Hall miss and laid it in at the buzzer to put Mason up 60-58 with 24 seconds left.
Mason forced a 3pt miss by Fordham with six seconds left, but could not get the rebound. On the final Rams possession, Kyle Rose hit a 3-pointer to send Fordham off with the win.
George Mason returns home to square off with Duquesne on Saturday (March 2). Tip-off between the Patriots and Dukes is set for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
