FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball team improved to 5-0 for just the second time in school history after knocking off Jacksonville 79-57 on Tuesday night inside EagleBank Arena.
 
The Patriots blitzed the Dolphins with a 9-0 start, then kept a consistent defensive effort throughout to wrap up their season-opening homestand in dominant fashion.
 
With the win, the Green & Gold have matched the 2019-20 Patriot squad for the best start in school history.
 
"This is a great win," head coach Tony Skinn ('06) said. "I expect so much from these guys and I thought with this win tonight, it felt right. Defensively, we showed how good we could be and we showed our teeth. I'm proud of these guys."
 
George Mason limited the Dolphins to 38.5 percent shooting and a 23.5 percent mark from 3pt range. GMU also turned 19 JU turnovers into a 28-15 edge in points off turnovers for the game.
 
Senior guard Masai Troutman led the Green & Gold with a season-high 20 points (5-10 FG, 9-11 FT) and five rebounds in 26 minutes.
 
Junior guard Kory Mincy added 13 points (4-7 FG, 3-4 3pt), four assists and a season-best three steals, while graduate guard Jahari Long dished out a season-high five assists to go along with eight points (2-2 3pt).
 
Defensively, graduate forward Nick Ellington dazzled with a career-best seven blocks, marking the highest total by a Patriot since A.J. Wilson tallied eight against CSU in November 2017.
 
Freshman Emmanuel Kanga also chipped in a season-high nine points to go along with five rebounds in 12 minutes.
 
The Green & Gold shot an efficient 58.1 percent from the floor and made 7-of-14 3-point attempts on the night.
 
The Patriots now head to Daytona Beach, Fla., to compete in the 2025 Sunshine Slam. George Mason opens the event against MAC foe Ohio on Monday (Nov. 24) at 6 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.