FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball team will begin a home-and-home series with in-state rival James Madison this season.
The Patriots will play at JMU on Friday, November 29 for a Black Friday showdown in Harrisonburg. The Green & Gold then will host the Dukes in Fairfax during non-conference play in 2025-26.
James Madison is the Patriots' most common opponent in the program's 59-year history. The November meeting will mark the 101st all-time matchup between the programs, with the Dukes holding a slim 51-49 edge. George Mason has won 24 of the past 26 meetings.
The Dukes are coming off a historic campaign in which JMU won a program-record 32 games, captured the Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles and defeated fifth-seeded Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
James Madison finished the 2023-24 season ranked 52
nd in the NCAA NET Rankings, marking the Patriots' third top-60 foe announced so far for next season. GM also will play at Duke (10) and Marquette (14).
The remainder of the Patriots' 2024-25 non-conference schedule will be announced later this summer.
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS
George Mason welcomes 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 among 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).
