WHERE: EagleBank Arena - Fairfax, Va.
WHEN: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
RECORDS: George Mason (13-5, 4-1), George Washington (13-4, 2-2)
SERIES: George Mason trails, 11-24
TELEVISION: USA Network
LIVE VIDEO: Click here
LIVE AUDIO: Click here
LIVE STATS: Click here
TICKETS: Click here
GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)

PROMOTION: DMV Day! Free Coach Skinn Bobblehead, First 1500 Fans; $10 Lower Bowl GA Seats

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team (13-5, 4-1) returns to EagleBank Arena Saturday afternoon to host rival George Washington (13-4, 2-2) on USA Network.

Tip-off between the Patriots and Revolutionaries is set for 12:30 p.m. Saturday's game will be broadcast nationally on USA Network, featuring commentary from Steve Schlanger and Tim McCormick. In addition, Voice of the Patriots Bill Rohland will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with streaming coverage beginning at 12:15 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
• The Patriots have won 11 of their past 13 games and are coming off a 67-59 victory at Dayton Wednesday. The triumph snapped the Flyers' 26-game home win streak and marked UD's first home loss since George Mason won 74-69 in UD Arena on Feb. 25, 2023.

• The win improved the Patriots to 4-1 in A-10 play for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign. GM's best ever Atlantic 10 start is 7-1 (2018-19).

• GM limited Dayton, which entered the game averaging 76.3 points, to 59 points, which tied a season low for the Flyers. GM is holding A-10 opponents to 15.3 points/game below their scoring averages through five league contests.

• Senior Darius Maddox led the Patriots with an A-10 season-best 20 points (8-13 FG, 4-5 3pt) and dished out four assists. He's averaging 19.0 points and shooting 57.7 percent over the past two games.

• After missing the second half of the Jan. 11 game vs. UMass (concussion protocol), Jalen Haynes returned vs. Dayton and notched 12 points (5-8 FG) and four rebounds in the win.

• GM is 11-1 at home this season and 25-4 (.862) over Coach Skinn's first two seasons inside EagleBank Arena.

• GM has held its opponent under 40 percent shooting in 72.2 percent (13 of 18) of their games this season. Since 1998-99, GM's best rate holding opponents under 40 percent is in 20 of 33 games in 2008-09 (.606).

• George Mason is fourth nationally in FG defense (.362) while also ranking high in 2pt defense (3rd, .407) and effective FG defense (9th, .432). The Patriots are 12th in scoring defense (62.1 ppg allowed) and 26th in overall defensive efficiency (0.961 points/possession).

• The Patriots are 12-1 when shooting 30 percent or better from from 3pt range on the season. GM made a season-best 11 triples on just 20 attempts (.550) against the Flyers on Wednesday.

• George Mason ranks second in the league in field goal percentage (.481) in A-10 games. The Green & Gold shot 52.1 percent at Dayton.

• In league games, George Mason leads the A-10 in scoring defense (61.2 ppg), but opponents have shot 39.6 percent from 3pt range (15th in A-10), compared to the team's 28.1 percent 3pt defense clip (98-349) during non-conference play.

• The Patriots are ranked 80th nationally in the Jan. 16 NET. GM also is 75th in the Ken Pomeroy rankings, marking the team's highest spot in the national ledger since December 2011.

NEUTRALIZING A-10 OPPONENT OFFENSES
George Mason has held its five A-10 opponents to an average of 15.3 points below their scoring averages entering the game. The Patriots limited Davidson and Rhode Island more than 20 points below their average and Dayton 17.3 points below its average output.

Dec. 31 vs. Davidson - 77.7 ppg...57 pts (-20.7)
Jan. 4 at Rhode Island - 83.3 ppg...62 pts (-21.3)
Jan. 8 vs. Richmond - 71.3 ppg...58 (-13.3)
Jan. 11 vs. UMass - 73.7 ppg...70 (-3.7)
Jan. 15 at Dayton - 76.3 ppg...59 (-17.3)

HISTORY vs. GEORGE WASHINGTON
Saturday's game marks the 36th all-time meeting between local rivals George Mason and George Washington. The schools are separated by just 20 miles and are situated on the same DC Metro line (Orange). Mason has won nine of the past 14 matchups between the programs. Overall, GW holds a 24-11 advantage in the series, but the Patriots enjoy a 7-6 edge in Fairfax. Last season, the teams split a pair of meetings. GM won 90-67 in Fairfax on Feb. 13 and the Revs won the Jan. 15 game in Foggy Bottom, 75-62.

A LOOK AT THE REVOLUTIONARIES (13-4, 2-2 A-10; NET #127, KenPom #116)
George Washington was picked to finish 13th in the A-10 preseason poll, but the Revs put together a solid 11-2 non-conference record and are 2-2 to begin A-10 play. That includes an 82-62 home win over Dayton on January 4. Much like the Patriots, the Revs excel at getting to the line and rank 34th nationally in free throws attempted/game (23.8). Defensively, GW ranks in the top-50 in steals/game (9.2, 32nd) and field goal percentage defense (.400, 37th). Darren Buchanan leads the team in scoring (14.6 ppg) and grabs 7.2 rebounds/contest. Gerald Drumgoole Jr. adds 13.7 points/contest, while Rafael Castro chips in 11.2 points and a team-best 8.9 rebounds while shooting 67.3 percent from the floor.

UP NEXT
George Mason hits the road for a Tuesday night contest at St. Bonaventure. Tip-off between the Patriots and Bonnies is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.