WHERE: EagleBank Arena - Fairfax, Va.
WHEN: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: George Mason (15-5, 6-1), Loyola Chicago (12-7, 3-3)
SERIES: George Mason trails, 1-3
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GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)

PROMOTION: Beach Night! Free reversible bucket hats for first 2000 fans

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason University men's basketball team (15-5, 6-1) returns home to host Loyola Chicago (12-7, 3-3) on Wednesday night inside EagleBank Arena.

Tip-off inside EagleBank Arena between the Patriots and Ramblers is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+, featuring commentary from Voice of the Patriots Bill Rohland and former George Mason women's basketball student-athlete Jen Surlas. In addition, Steve Kolbe will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with streaming coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
• The Patriots have won five in a row and 13 of their past 15 games. GM is coming off a momentous 75-62 victory at St. Bonaventure on Jan. 21. It marked the Patriots' first win inside the Reilly Center since 2004.

• The Patriots are in sole possession of first place in the A-10 and are two games ahead of fourth in the league ledger.

• With a win Wednesday, the Patriots would match the best start in the program's A-10 history (7-1).

• GM gets 23.8 percent of its points from the free throw line this season, which ranks 17th nationally. The Patriots went a perfect 19-of-19 from the line in the win over the Bonnies. That mark is tied for the second most free throws without a miss in school history.

• Zach Anderson led the Patriots with an A-10 personal best 17 points (6-9 FG, 5-8 3pt) at SBU. Darius Maddox added 14 points and a season-best seven rebounds, while Brayden O'Connor (13) and Giovanni Emejuru (11) also scored in double figures.

• Maddox is averaging 17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and shooting 37.5 percent from 3pt range over the past four games.

• K.D. Johnson tied a season-high with six assists at SBU and is averaging 3.8/game over the past four contests.

• George Mason is the first team to win at Dayton and St. Bonaventure in the same season since VCU in 2018-19.

• GM has held its opponent under 40 percent shooting in 75 percent (15 of 20) of its 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).

• The Patriots are 13-1 when shooting 30 percent or better from from 3pt range on the season.

• George Mason is fourth nationally in FG defense (.366) while also ranking high in 2pt defense (3rd, .415) and effective FG defense (5th, .433). The Patriots are 13th in scoring defense (62.7 ppg allowed) and 25th in overall defensive efficiency (0.959 points/possession).

• Maddox is just a two of 3-pointers away from becoming the 20th player to make 100 triples in a George Mason uniform.

• George Mason has won its first four A-10 home games for the first time since the Patriots joined the league in 2013-14.

• The Patriots are ranked 73rd nationally in the Jan. 28 NET. GM also is 70th in the Ken Pomeroy rankings. It marks the Patriots highest spot in the KenPom ledger since December 2011.

HISTORY vs. LOYOLA CHICAGO
Wednesday's game marks the fifth all time matchup between the Patriots and Ramblers in men's basketball. Loyola Chicago has won three of the four meetings between the schools. Last season, the Ramblers won in Fairfax, 85-79, on Feb. 7, then took the return matchup in Chicago, 80-59, on Feb. 24. Darius Maddox averaged 17.5 points/game in the two matchups last season.

A LOOK AT THE RAMBLERS (12-7, 3-3 A-10; NET #154, KenPom #150)
Loyola Chicago was picked fifth in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll. The Ramblers started the season 8-0, but have gone 5-7 over their past 12 games while dealing with a series of injuries. Loyola Chicago is coming off a 70-66 home win over Fordham on Jan. 22. The Ramblers rank third in the A-10 in turnovers forced/game (13.8) and are fourth in the league in effective FG percentage (.539). LUC is led by senior Des Watson, who averages 12.5 points and a team-best 2.9 assists/contest. Sheldon Edwards Jr. adds 12.5 points/game and shoots 39.3 percent from beyond the arc, while Jayden Dawson chips in 12.4 points/game. Miles Rubin is second in the A-10 and 22nd nationally with 2.05 blocks/contest.

UP NEXT
George Mason hits the road for the second of two matchups with Davidson this season. Tip-off on Saturday (Feb. 1) between the Patriots  and Wildcats is set for 4 p.m. inside Belk Arena. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.