Box Score (PDF)
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball team (22-6, 13-2 A-10) claimed its school record 16
th home win of the season with a grueling 74-64 victory over Fordham (11-17, 3-12) on Wednesday night inside EagleBank Arena.
In a game that featured 55 fouls and 71 free throw attempts, the Patriots remained focused and converted when it mattered to pick up their A-10 program best 22
nd overall victory and 13
th league win.
"That was an exhausting game," head coach Tony Skinn ('06) said. "Credit to Fordham, they junked things up and made it a game. I would like us to play better and have better connectivity in certain moments. But a win is a win - they're hard to come by in conference play. We're 13-2."
Senior
Jalen Haynes tied his George Mason career best with 25 points in the game (8-20 FG, 9-11 FT) to go with seven rebounds in just 24 minutes.
Senior
Darius Maddox added 14 points (2-4 3pt FG), five rebounds and two steals, while junior
Brayden O'Connor notched 12 points and dished out a team-best four assists. Senior
K.D. Johnson chipped in 10 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists.
And highlighting his usual defensive wizardry, senior
Jared Billups notched team highs in rebounds (8) and blocks (3) while nabbing three steals. He tallied a team-best +16 on the night.
GM limited the Rams to just 33.8 percent shooting for the game and a 6-of-29 (.207) effort from 3pt range. The Patriots also held sizable advantages in points in the paint (34-24), points off turnovers (21-11) for the game and made a solid 28-of-40 (.700) attempts from the free throw line.
GM led 32-24 at the half, but an 8-0 Rams spurt tied the game up at the 16:48 mark of the second half. The contest remained a one or two possession game until the final five minutes, when the Patriots used a 10-0 run to go up by 11 (68-57) with 2:08 to play.
Wednesday's victory ensures the Patriots will earn either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in next month's A-10 Championship.
Next up, George Mason hits the road for a Saturday (March 1) contest at Duquesne (12-16, 7-8). Tip-off between the Patriots and Dukes is set for 2 p.m. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.
