DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Patriots fell to the Ole Miss Rebels, 81-67, at the Ocean Center on Saturday, struggling to overcome a 46-22 deficit in points in the paint.

The Patriots began the game and faced early pressure from Ole Miss, trailing 12-0 midway through the quarter. MJ Johnson then sparked a response with four consecutive free throws, narrowing the gap. Volker added a fastbreak layup at 2:27 to further cut into the deficit. The Green & Gold ended the first quarter down 16-9.

George Mason initiated a strong stretch in the second quarter with a pivotal 3-pointer by Kennedy Harris at 9:13, assisted by Jada Brown, narrowing the deficit. Zahirah Walton contributed significantly with a sequence of a layup, a tip-in, and a jumper, bringing the Patriots within striking distance at 5:02, making the score 22-21. Despite their efforts, Ole Miss countered effectively, particularly in the paint, to maintain their lead. The quarter concluded with a jumper by Volker at the buzzer, closing the gap slightly. George Mason trailed 38-28 at the half.

The Green & Gold struggled to contain Ole Miss in the paint as the visitors pulled ahead with 14 points scored inside during the third quarter. Despite a resilient effort, highlighted by Harris's 3-pointer at 7:54, George Mason faced challenges with turnovers and second-chance points. Walton contributed with assists on several key plays, but Ole Miss's offensive pressure proved significant. The quarter concluded with Ole Miss leading 62–41.

George Mason made a strong push in the fourth quarter, highlighted by Makayla Johnson's three-pointer at 8:39, narrowing the deficit. The team effectively exploited turnovers and scored a total of 26 points in the quarter. Walton contributed significantly with a defensive rebound at 2:01, followed by a layup, as they outscored Ole Miss in this final stretch, and pulled within eight points with 2:27 left in the game, but the Rebels made a run at the end. The game concluded with Ole Miss securing an 81-67 victory.

PATRIOT POINTS
Zahirah Walton - 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Kennedy Harris - 19 points, 5-5 FT, 2 steals
MJ Johnson - 10 rebounds, 6 points, 2 assists  
Louis Volker - 9 points, 80% FG, 1 block  

UP NEXT
The Patriots return home to open conference play vs. Fordham on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. A live stream will be available on ESPN+.