PHILADELPHIA – The George Mason University men's basketball team (13-1, 1-0) erased a 10-point second half deficit during a resilient 80-75 win at La Salle on New Year's Eve inside John E. Glaser Arena.
The win improved the Patriots to 13-1 for the first time in the program's 60-year history.
George Mason trailed by 65-55 with 10:42 left, but a 10-1 run by the Patriots moved GMU back within one (67-66) with six minutes to play. With the Explorers ahead 71-68 at the 4:12 mark, a final 10-2 run by the Green & Gold gave the visitors a five-point edge (78-73) the team would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
"This was a high-level learning moment for our group and an opportunity to show what we're about," head coach
Tony Skinn ('06) said. "We haven't been on the road or trailing in a game much this season. They've showed so much resilience all season long with things we've had to battle, with injuries and guys needing to step up. To trail for 34-35 minutes and then find a way, I'm really happy and proud of these guys. This is going to go a long way, because these wins aren't easy to come by."
George Mason completed the comeback on the strength of protecting the ball and getting major contributions from the bench against an Explorer unit that returned two key players for the first time Wednesday.
The Patriots committed 0 turnovers in the 40-minute game, a remarkable feat that has only been accomplished by five Division I teams since 2004.
Two-time A-10 Player of the Week
Kory Mincy battled foul trouble in the first half, but blitzed the Explorers with 18 of his team-high 21 points in the second stanza. He also dished out four assists and went 9-of-10 from the free throw line.
Freshman forward
Emmanuel Kanga added a critical 17 points – his career high – in 19 minutes of work. He went 7-of-8 from the floor and grabbed a key eight rebounds.
Sophomore
Stas Sivka also provided a major boost in the second half and was +14 for the game while pulling down a career-best five rebounds. His putback with 17 seconds to go effectively sealed the win for the Patriots.
Junior
Riley Allenspach added 19 points (7-11 FG, 4-5 FT) in 26 minutes.
The Patriots held La Salle to 30.3 percent shooting in the second half and held a +12 (45-33) scoring edge in the period.
An early 10-0 run by the Explorers moved La Salle ahead by eight (19-11) at the 11:12 mark of the first half. La Salle extended the lead to 11 (29-18), but a 10-3 spurt by the Patriots moved George Mason back within three at 31-28. A late 5-point possession by the Explorers, including a made 3-pointer and free throws off of a loose ball foul, helped the La Salle move back in front by seven (42-35) at the break.
The Patriots cut it to four at 46-42, but the Explorers continued their hot shooting from deep to move back in front by 10 (65-55), before the Patriots began their gritty comeback, using a 23-8 run to escape with the road victory.
Next up, George Mason returns to Fairfax for the team's home opener Saturday (Jan. 3) against Rhode Island. Tip-off between the Patriots and Rams is set for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast nationally on USA Network.
