WHERE: EagleBank Arena - Fairfax, Va.
WHEN: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: George Mason (10-5, 1-1), Richmond (7-8, 0-1)
SERIES: George Mason trails, 30-42
LIVE VIDEO: Click here
LIVE AUDIO: Click here
LIVE STATS: Click here
TICKETS: Click here
GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)

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FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason (10-5, 1-1) returns home for two games, beginning with a Wednesday night contest vs. Richmond (7-8, 2-0).

Tip-off between the Patriots and Spiders 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 standout Will Thomas ('08). 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 are coming off a 62-59 setback at Rhode Island on Saturday. GM led 34-25 at the break and 54-48 with 5:18 to go, but the Rams used a late 8-0 spurt to take the win.

• George Mason held Rhode Island's A-10-leading scoring offense 21 points below its season average (83.3 ppg). Over the first two league games, GM's defense is limiting its opponent to 21.5 points/contest below its scoring average for the season.

• Darius Maddox (14 points), Woody Newton (13) and Brayden O'Connor (12) all scored in double figures for the Patriots Saturday. Jalen Haynes added a team-high 12 rebounds and season-best three blocks.

• With his seventh point of the game, Maddox reached 1,000 points for his career.

• The Patriots struggled from 3pt range Saturday, converting just 2-of-17 (.118) attempts. George Mason is 1-4 when shooting less than 30 percent from beyond the arc this season.

• GM limited URI to just 33.3 percent shooting in Saturday's game, marking the 12th time in 15 outings the Green & Gold have held their opponent under 40 percent shooting in a game. No foes have shot 50 percent or better. GM held opponents to below 50 percent over the first 19 games last season.

• George Mason is third nationally in FG defense (.355) while also ranking high in 2pt defense (4th, .409), effective FG defense (5th, .422) and 3pt defense (36th, .293). The Patriots are 13th in scoring defense (61.8 ppg allowed) and 21st in overall defensive efficiency (0.958 points/possession).

• Those FG defense averages are tracking well ahead of the program's previous single season records, including overall FG defense (.388, 2005-06) and 3pt defense (.301, 2022-23). George Mason's record for end-of-season KenPom defensive efficiency is 13th (2005-06, 0.915 points/possession).

• With his next assist, senior K.D. Johnson will reach 200 assists for his career. He is also 21 steals away from 200.

• George Mason is 9-1 at home this season and 37-6 (.857) in its last 43 games inside EagleBank Arena. GM will play three of its next four games in Fairfax.

• The Patriots are ranked 79th nationally in the Jan. 3 NET. GM also is 74th in the Ken Pomeroy rankings. It's GM's highest KenPom ranking since December 2011.

HISTORY vs. RICHMOND
Wednesday's game will mark the 73rd all-time meeting between George Mason and Richmond in men's basketball (Mason trails 30-42). The Patriots are 18-13 vs. the Spiders in Fairfax and 9-22 in games played in Richmond (3-7 on neutral courts). George Mason has won five of the past six matchups, including a 64-46 victory in Fairfax in the most recent meeting on March 9, 2024. In two games vs. the Spiders last season, Darius Maddox averaged a team-best 18.0 points/game while shooting 51.9 percent from the floor (14-27) and 46.2 percent (6-13) from 3pt range.

A LOOK AT THE SPIDERS (7-8, 2-0 A-10; NET #256, KenPom #218)
Richmond was picked seventh out of 15 teams in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll. The Spiders went 5-8 in non-conference games but have started A-10 play 2-0, including a home win over GW (66-61) and road victory at UMass (72-64). Much like the Patriot,s the Spiders excel at drawing contact and getting to the line, as 25.2 percent of the team's points come at the charity stripe (9th nationally). Delonnie Hunt ranks seventh in the A-10 in scoring (17.5 ppg) and averages a team-best 2.9 assists/contest. He ranks second nationally in free throws made (110). Dusan Neskovic adds 13.1 points and 3.6 rebounds/contest.

UP NEXT
George Mason remains at home to host Massachusetts on Saturday (Jan. 11). Tip-off between the Patriots and Minutemen is set for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.