FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball team (18-1, 6-0) continued to make the big plays when they matter most during a gutsy 69-64 victory over DMV rival George Washington (12-7, 3-3) Monday night.
Before a raucous EagleBank Arena crowd of 6,434, the Patriots jumped out to a 38-30 halftime lead, then rallied from a 62-60 deficit with 2:21 left to hold on for the victory.
The win continues Team's 60's historic run to begin the campaign, as the Patriots are now 18-1 overall and 6-0 in A-10 play for the first time in program history.
"I want to give flowers to our support system. The building was rocking," head coach
Tony Skinn ('06) said. "This is what conference play is all about, especially when you fought through so many things to start the year. It's a game of separation we're playing. For us to step up like that, I'm happy for these guys. They're learning exactly what they need to learn as we get down the stretch."
George Mason held the Revolutionaries' top-50 offense to 42.1 percent shooting and 64 points, well under the team's season average of 87.1.
The Patriots shot 49 percent on the other end of the floor and received double figure scoring contributions from a quartet of student-athletes.
Junior
Riley Allenspach continued his torrid pace of late, tallying his second double-double of the season with 18 points and a career-best 12 rebounds in 30 minutes of work.
Masai Troutman added 14 points (6-11 FG) and three assists, while
Kory Mincy added 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Fatt Hill rounded out the double figure scorers with a well-rounded 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
After GMU entered the half up 38-30, a
Kory Mincy 3-pointer extended the edge to 11 (41-30) with 19:35 to play. GW used a 13-2 run to tie the game at 43-43 and the teams played to another tie at 57-57 with 5:41 left.
GW took a 62-60 advantage with 2:21 remaining, but a big
Jahari Long 3-pointer on the next possession gave the Patriots a lead (63-62) they would never again relinquish. Allenspach made four big free throws, including two front end 1-and-1 opportunities, and the Patriots got three big stops late to secure the victory.
Long finished with a team-best five assists in the victory.
The win was George Mason's fifth straight over GW and improves the Green & Gold to a perfect 13-0 inside EagleBank Arena this season.
Next up, George Mason travels to the Ocean State for a Saturday contest at Rhode Island. Tip-off inside the Ryan Center is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
