FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball team will play at Marquette as part of a multi-team event during the 2024-25 season.
The Patriots will head to Milwaukee to battle the Golden Eagles on Friday, November 8. As part of the Marquette Challenge, George Mason also will host Stony Brook on Monday, November 11 and Central Michigan on Wednesday, November 13.
The November 8 contest at the on-campus Al McGuire Center marks the first ever matchup between George Mason and Marquette on the hardwood. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 2023-24 campaign in which the team posted 27 wins, went 14-6 in BIG EAST play, earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and reached the Sweet 16. Marquette returns leading scorer Kam Jones (17.2 ppg), as well as David Joplin (10.8 ppg) and Stevie Mitchell (8.8 ppg) from that squad.
George Mason's Nov. 11 home game vs. Stony Brook will be the second between the Patriots and Seawolves. Stony Brook won 20 games last season and reached the CAA Championship Game before falling to the College of Charleston in overtime.
On Nov. 13, GM and Central Michigan will match up for the third all-time meeting between the programs. The Chippewas posted an 18-14 record last season and went 12-6 in Mid-American Conference play. The CMU coaching staff includes former Patriot assistant Scott Cherry (1999-02, 2003-07).
In addition to the Marquette Challenge, the Patriots also will play at Duke on Dec. 17. The remainder of the GM non-conference schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS
George Mason welcomes back back two starters from last season's 20-win squad, including second-leading scorer
Darius Maddox (14.0 ppg) and
Jared Billups. GM also brings back three additional letter winners, including
Woody Newton,
Austin Ball and 2023 All-SoCon Third Team selection
Jalen Haynes (ETSU). The Patriots finished in the top-100 nationally last season for the first time since 2010-11.
The Green & Gold will bring in five transfers for the 2024-25 campaign, including forward Giovanni Emejuru (Siena), guard Jeremiah Quigley (Iona), guard K.D. Johnson (Auburn), guard Brayden O'Connor (UMass Lowell) and forward Zach Anderson (FGCU). That group is ranked 57th nationally amongst transfer classes by EvanMiya.com. George Mason's three athlete freshman class includes guard Justin Begg (Houston, Texas) and forwards Bryson Cokley (Whiteville, N.C.) and Staš Sivka (Celje, Slovenia).
