WHERE: Ocean Center - Daytona Beach, Fla. 
WHEN: Monday, 6 p.m.
RECORDS: George Mason (5-0), Ohio (1-4)
SERIES: Series tied, 1-1
TELEVISION: CBS Sports Network
LIVE AUDIO: Click here
TICKETS: Click here
GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - George Mason heads to Daytona Beach for Monday's GEICO Sunshine Slam showdown with MAC power Ohio.

Tip-off between the Patriots and Bobcats is set for 6 p.m. inside the Ocean Center. Monday's game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network, featuring commentary from Jake Marsh and Sean Kearney. In addition, Voice of the Patriots Bill Rohland will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with streaming coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m.

HISTORY vs. OHIO
Monday's game marks the third all time matchup between George Mason and Ohio in men's basketball. The first two meetings came during the ESPN Bracketbusters series during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 campaigns. Ohio won the first matchup 69-57 in Athens on Feb. 23, 2008, with George Mason capturing the return game in Fairfax, 74-65, on Nov. 29, 2008. During the win in Fairfax, Dre Smith and Cam Long each tallied 15 points to lead the Green & Gold.

PATRIOT POINTS
• Depending on Monday's results, the Patriots will battle either Florida Atlantic (KenPom #119) or Loyola Marymount (#106) on Tuesday inside the Ocean Center.

• George Mason is 5-0 to begin the season for just the second time in school history after dispatching of Jacksonville 79-57 on Tuesday in Fairfax.

• With a win Monday vs. Ohio, the Patriots would improve to 6-0 for the first time in school history.

• Masai Troutman led the Patriots with a season-best 20 points (5-10 FG, 9-11 FT) against the Dolphins, while Kory Mincy added 13 points (3-4 p 3pt) and four assists.

• Mincy ranks second in the A-10 and is 13th nationally in 3pt FG percentage (.565). He also is fourth in the league in scoring (17.6 ppg) and is fifth in 3pt FG made/game (2.6).

• The Patriots made 22 free throws against the Dolphins. GMU ranks 17th nationally in FT made/game (23.0) this season.

• Tony Skinn's Patriot Pressure defense has returned this season, as the Green & Gold rank 10th nationally in scoring defense (59.8 ppg), 28th in 2pt defense (.427) and are 32nd in FG defense (.371). GMU is 42nd overall in KenPom defensive efficiency (.992 ppp).

• The Patriots have battled the injury bug in the early going this season. Fatt Hill has missed all five games (leg), while Preseason All-A-10 First Team pick Brayden O'Connor (foot) has played just 14 minutes due to a foot injury. Masai Troutman (ankle) also missed two of the first five contests.

• George Mason is fifth in the A-10 and 38th nationally in rebounding margin (+10.4) and has outrebounded its opponent in four of five games this season.

• Skinn, the 2025 A-10 Coach of the Year, sports an overall win percentage of .712 (52-21) and is at 66.7 percent (24-12) in A-10 games over his first three seasons. The Nov. 11 victory made Skinn the fastest coach in program history to reach 50 victories.

• The Patriots are 3-3 under Skinn on neutral courts. That includes a 1-1 mark in the 2023 Jacksonville Classic and 2-2 record in the Atlantic 10 Championship.

HISTORY vs. MAC OPPONENTS
The Patriots have posted a 9-14 (.391) record in 23 all-time games against teams currently in the Mid-American Conference. Mason's most common opponent is Toledo (3-3), following by Central Michigan (1-3) and Kent State (1-2). In the most recent matchup with a MAC foe, the Patriots fell to Central Michigan 70-69 last season on Nov. 13, 2024, in Fairfax.

HISTORY IN FLORIDA MTEs
George Mason has posted a 5-5 all-time record in multi-team events played in Florida. Mason previously competed in the 2007 Old Spice Classic in Orlando (2-1), 2016 Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero (2-1), 2018 Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville (0-2) and 2023 Jacksonville Classic in St. Augustine (1-1). In the Old Spice Classic, the Patriots defeated Michael Beasley-led #18 Kansas State (87-77) and South Carolina (69-68).

A LOOK AT THE BOBCATS (1-4, 0-0 MAC; KenPom #202)
Ohio was picked to finish fourth in the 2025-26 MAC Preseason Poll. The Bobcats have battled injuries, much like the Patriots, to begin the campaign, and currently sit at 1-4 through five games. Ohio has played a top-60 schedule thus far, including games at KenPom #25 Saint Mary's and #10 Louisville. Preseason All-MAC selection Jackson Paveletzke leads the conference in scoring (22.0 ppg) and shoots 55.2 percent from the floor. He's seventh in the MAC with 4.2 assists/contest. Aidan Hadaway adds 14.2 points and a team-best 7.2 rebounds/game, while Preseason All-MAC Second Team pick Javan Simmons is at 13.6 points/game and 5.8 rebounds/contest.

UP NEXT
The Patriots wrap up the 2025 Sunshine Slam on Tuesday inside the Ocean Center. Depending on the results of Monday's games, George Mason will face either Florida Atlantic or Loyola Marymount. The game will tip at either 5 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. and air on CBS Sports Network.