Box Score (PDF)
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball team (27-8) has tied the program record for overall victories after opening the 2025 NIT with a 86-69 triumph over Samford (22-11) Wednesday night inside EagleBank Arena.
The win is the Patriots' first in the NIT since 2004 and matches the 2005-06 and 2010-11 teams for the most overall victories (27) in school history.
On Wednesday, George Mason held Samford's 12
th-ranked scoring offense (83.3 ppg) to just 69 points while shooting 50 percent on the other end of the floor. GMU set a new school record for points (86) and assists (17) in a NIT game.
"Team 59 is a phenomenal team," head coach Tony Skinn ('06) said/ "This is a team that continues to make history. I think resiliency is a really, really key word for who this team is because it's not easy to come out after the type of game we played on Sunday when emotions are so high. You have to come back and play in the NIT when the big fish at the end of the day is the NCAA Tournament. Most teams lose in these games. For this team to come out right away out of the gates and create a little bit of separation in the first half, I'm extremely proud of these guys."
Four players scored in double figures for George Mason, led by senior
Zach Anderson. The Apopka, Fla., product tallied his first double-double of the season with 19 points (6-8 FG, 3-5 3pt) and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes of work.
Senior
K.D. Johnson added a season-best 20 points (6-10 FG, 7-8 FG), to go with five assists, four steals and three rebounds, while senior
Darius Maddox chipped in 17 points (5-12 3pt). Senior
Jalen Haynes rounded out the scorers with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists.
An early 13-3 run by the Patriots gave George Mason a 17-9 lead at the 13:08 mark of the opening half. Another surge by the Patriots – this time an18-2 run – pushed the lead to 23 (40-17). GMU led 45-24 at the half and by as many as 25 (51-26) in the second stanza.
With the win, George Mason upped its school record home win total this season to 18.
Next up, the Patriots host NIT Second Round action on Saturday at 2 p.m. George Mason will play third-seeded Bradley (27-8) and the contest will air on ESPN+.
