WHERE: EagleBank Arena - Fairfax, Va.
WHEN: Saturday, 2 p.m.
RECORDS: George Mason (27-8), Bradley (27-8)
SERIES: George Mason leads, 1-0
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FAIRFAX, Va. - The second-seeded George Mason University men's basketball team (27-8) will look to set a new school record for wins in a season when the Patriots host NIT Second Round action vs. No. 3 Bradley on Saturday afternoon in Fairfax.

Tip-off between the Patriots and Braves is set for 2 p.m. Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+, featuring commentary from Robert Lee and Mark Wise. In addition, Voice of the Patriots Bill Rohland will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with streaming coverage beginning at 1:45 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS
• It's George Mason's fifth NIT appearance in school history and first since 2009. On Wednesday, the Patriots earned their first win in the event since the 2003-04 campaign.

• The Patriots are 25-5 (.833) over their last 30 games.

• George Mason has reached 15 league and 27 overall victories for the first time in the program's A-10 history (2013-). The 27 overall victories have matched the school record for wins, set on two previous occasions (2005-06, 2010-11). A win vs. Bradley would set a new program best for victories in a season.

• GMU opened the NIT with an 86-69 home victory over Samford Wednesday. The Patriots' 86 points and 17 assists both set single game NIT school records.

• K.D. Johnson notched a season-best 20 points to go with five assists and four steals in the win, while Zach Anderson added his first double-double (19 pts, 10 reb) of the campaign.

• Third Team All-A-10 pick Darius Maddox added 17 points and tied the school record for 3s in an NIT game (5), while First Team All-A-10 selection Jalen Haynes added 14 points.

• GMU earned its first ever share of the A-10 regular season title and reached a conference title game for the first time since 2009.

• A-10 Coach of the Year Tony Skinn ('06) sports an overall win percentage of .701 (47-20) and is at 66.7 percent (24-12) in A-10 games over his first two seasons.

• George Mason leads the nation in FG defense (.379) while also ranking high in effective FG defense (5th .450), 2pt defense (6th, .446) and 3pt defense (17th, .302). The Patriots are 24th in overall defensive efficiency (0.958 points/possession).

• George Mason is 18-1 at home this season and swept its A-10 home schedule (9-0) for the first time since the Patriots joined the league in 2013-14. GMU is 32-4 at home under head coach Tony Skinn ('06). The team's 18 home wins this season is a school record.

• The Patriots are 7-1 in their last eight contests decided by five points or less and 3-0 in their last three overtime games.

• The Patriots are 22-3 when shooting 30 percent or better from from 3pt range on the season.

• George Mason needs 12 free throw attempts Saturday to break the school record for attempts in a season (794, 1989-90).

• Team captain Jared Billups is the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year and is one of 30 finalists for the Lefty Driesell Award, given to the nation's top defensive player.

GEORGE MASON'S NIT HISTORY
George Mason's 2025 NIT bid is the fifth in program history and first since 2009. The Patriots are 4-4 all time in the event, highlighted by a trip to the Round of 16 in 2004 which featured wins over Tennessee and Austin Peay. Head coach Tony Skinn was a sophomore on that 2003-04 Patriots team and averaged 10.3 points/game over the three NIT games for the Green & Gold.

HISTORY vs. BRADLEY
Saturday's game marks the second all time meeting between George Mason and Bradley in men's basketball. In the only other previous matchup, the Patriots earned a 77-66 victory as part of the 2016 Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla. Otis Livingston II tallied 22 points in the win, while Marquise Moore added 17 points and 15 rebounds.

A LOOK AT THE BRAVES (27-8, 15-5 MVC; KenPom #92, NET #80)
Bradley heads into Saturday's game sporting a 27-8 overall record. The Braves went 15-5 in Missouri Valley play and own top-70 victories over San Francisco (66-64) and Drake (61-59). Bradley ranks fourth nationally in 3pt FG percentage (.398) and is 12th in effective field goal percentage (.567). The team is 27th in the country in FG defense (.404). Duke Deen leads the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) and ranks 42nd nationally in 3pt FG percentage (.400). Darius Hannah adds 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds/game while shooting 58.4 percent from the floor.

UP NEXT
With a victory Saturday, George Mason would advance to the quarterfinals of the NIT and play the winner of No. 1 Dayton/No. 5 Chattanooga either Tuesday or Wednesday.