WHERE: Davidson, N.C.
WHEN: Saturday, 4 p.m.
RECORDS: George Mason (16-5, 7-1), Davidson (13-7, 3-4)
SERIES: George Mason trails, 5-8
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DAVIDSON, N.C. - The George Mason University men's basketball team (16-5, 7-1) begins a two-game road swing Saturday with a trip to the Tar Heel State to battle Davidson (13-7, 3-4).

Tip-off between the Patriots and Wildcats is set for 4 p.m. Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+. In addition, Voice of the Patriots Bill Rohland will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with streaming coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
• The Patriots have won six in a row and 14 of their past 16 games. GM is coming off its second overtime win in the last three contests after knocking off Loyola, 58-53, on Wednesday in Fairfax. GM held the Ramblers to 0-of-8 shooting in OT.

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

• The Green & Gold have matched the best A-10 start in program history (7-1). GM's 16-5 record marks the Patriots' best overall start since 2011-12. That team started 18-5.

• Jalen Haynes led the Patriots Wednesday with 14 points, six rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Jared Billups added 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Justin Begg tied his career high with 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-2 3pt).

• The Patriots held Loyola Chicago to A-10 opponent season  lows in points (53), FG percentage (.321) and 3pt percentage (.214). Loyola's 53 points marked the fewest allowed in an overtime game by the Patriots since the school starting keeping OT records in 1981-82.

• George Mason is 2-1 on the road in A-10 play. The Patriots are 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 76.2 percent (16 of 21) 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).

• George Mason leads the nation in FG defense (.364) while also ranking high in effective FG defense (3rd, .430) and 2pt defense (4th, .415). The Patriots are ninth in scoring defense (62.2 ppg allowed) and 20th in overall defensive efficiency (0.953 points/possession).

• GM committed an A-10 season low seven turnovers vs. Loyola Chicago and turned 15 Rambler turnovers into a 19-5 edge in points off turnovers for the game. The Green & Gold are a perfect 7-0 when committing less turnovers than their opponent this season.

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

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

• George Mason begins a stretch Saturday in which three of the team's next four games will be on the road.

• The Patriots are ranked 72nd nationally in the Jan. 31 NET. GM also is 72nd in the Ken Pomeroy rankings. It marks the Patriots' highest spot in the KenPom ledger since December 2011.

HISTORY vs. DAVIDSON
Saturday's matchup marks the 14th all-time meeting between Mason and Davidson. The Wildcats hold an 8-5 advantage in the series, although GM has won the last three matchups. Davidson has captured four of the six meetings inside Belk Arena. Earlier this season, the Patriots opened A-10 play with a 69-57 win over the Wildcats on New Year's Eve in Fairfax. George Mason shot an efficient 55.8 percent (24-43) from the floor and made 8-of-20 3-point attempts (.400) on the night. GM also held a +11 (32-21) edge on the glass and was +18 (30-18) in points in the paint. Brayden O'Connor led the Patriots with a season-best 19 points (7-9 FG, 4-5 3pt) while chipping in four rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes. Jalen Haynes scored in double figures for the ninth-straight game, tallying 16 points (6-7 FG) and five rebounds in a season-high 31 minutes.

A LOOK AT THE WILDCATS (13-7, 3-4 A-10; NET #124, KenPom #117)
Davidson was picked 12th in the A-10 preseason poll and currently sits in a tie for 11th through seven games. The Wildcats are coming off a 72-66 win at Richmond on Jan. 25. Davidson features a top-75 offense (1.129 points/possession) and ranks second in the A-10 in 3-point field goal percentage (.361). Reed Bailey leads the A-10 in scoring (20.3 ppg) and paces the team in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and assists (3.7 apg) while ranking 16th nationally in free throw attempts (149). He is at 24.7 points/contest in A-10 play. Bobby Durkin adds 15.3 points/game and ranks 21st nationally (1st in A-10) in 3-point field goal percentage (.436), while Connor Kochera chips in 14.2 points/contest and is fourth in the A-10 in field goal percentage (.510).

UP NEXT
George Mason makes the short trip east on I-66 to play the second of two games vs. George Washington this season on Wednesday (Feb. 5). Tip-off in Foggy Bottom between the Patriots and Revolutionaries is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.