Box Score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball team (19-5, 10-1) made it a Homecoming to remember during an 82-67 triumph over Rhode Island (15-8, 4-7) Saturday before 6,861 fans inside EagleBank Arena.
 
The win keeps the Patriots a full game up on VCU for first place in the Atlantic 10 and extends the team's victory streak to nine, marking the fifth-longest in the nation.
 
GM's 19-5 overall start is the program's best since 2010-11.
 
"It's a great collective effort and a great win," head coach Tony Skinn ('06) said. "The energy that was in the building – I told the guys these are the games you'll remember the rest of your life. I remember when I was a player the Homecoming games and how exciting they were. Because of that, I wanted them to have a little bit of poise and not get too sped up. But they came out firing and strung together some great possessions. When we guard and we're making shots, we're a tough team to beat."
 
The Patriots shot an A-10 season-best 58.2 percent from the floor, marking the team's fourth-highest shooting mark in an A-10 game in program history. GM also tied a season-best with 11 3-pointers made on just 21 attempts (.524).
 
Senior Darius Maddox led the offensive charge for the Green & Gold by tying a career-best with 24 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting performance (4-6 3pt).
 
Senior Jalen Haynes added 16 points (8-11 FG), seven rebounds and three assists, while freshman Justin Begg chipped in a career-best 12 points (4-6 FG) and made a personal-best three triples on four attempts.
 
The Rams came out firing in the first half while shooting 57.1 percent (16-28) to keep it close at the break (46-40).
 
But the Green & Gold clamped down in the second while limiting Rhode Island to 36 percent and a 2-of-9 performance (.222) from deep. GM also held Sebastian Thomas, the A-10's second-leading scorer (19.1 ppg), to just nine shots and 10 points overall.
 
GM committed just eight turnovers in the contest and turned 10 URI miscues into a 17-4 edge in points off turnovers for the game. The Patriots are now 9-0 when winning the turnover battle this season.
 
The Patriots came out firing in the second half and used a 12-4 opening spurt to go up 13 (58-45) with 16:07 to go. GM extended it to 20 (76-56) with 5:25 left.
 
The win improves the Green & Gold to 14-1 at home on the year.
 
Next up, George Mason goes west for a Tuesday night battle at Saint Louis (14-10, 7-4). Tip-off Wednesday (Feb. 11) between the Patriots and Billikens is set for 8 p.m. (ET).The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and televised regionally on FanDuel Sports Network.