The George Mason University men's basketball team (9-2) heads to the Big Easy for a Friday afternoon contest vs. AAC foe Tulane (8-2).
gomason.com
"PATRIOT POINTS
• The Patriots are 9-2 to begin the season and are 78th in the NCAA NET rankings.
• Mason wrapped up a 2-0 homestand Tuesday with an 84-60 win over Bridgewater (Va.) inside EagleBank Arena.
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The Patriots held the Eagles to just 27.2 percent (9-33) from 2pt range Saturday. Mason is fourth nationally in 2pt FG defense (.411) through 11 games this season.
• Sophomore Keyshawn Hall exploded for 36 points on a impressive 15-of-18 performance from the floor. He also grabbed 12 rebounds for his A-10 leading sixth double-double.
• Hall's 36-point effort fell just three points shy of the EBA building record, set by Javon Greene in January 2020 (39). It was the first 30+ point/10+ rebound performance by a Patriot since a 35-point, 14-rebound game from Ryan Pearson in December 2011.
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reshman guard Baraka Okojie added a career-best 17 points (8-10 FT), to go along with six rebounds. Okojie ranks ninth nationally amongst freshmen in free throws made (38) this season. He has tallied 10+ points in four contests and ranks second on the team in assists (22).
• Senior Woody Newton posted a career-best five blocks Tuesday. It was the first 5+ block effort by a Patriot since Josh Oduro in Jan. 2022.
• Mason was without three regulars in Tuesday's contest, including
Darius Maddox (neck),
Malik Henry (personal) and
Amari Kelly (one-game suspension).
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The Patriots rank second in the A-10 and 36th nationally in 3pt FG percentage (.378). However, Mason has struggled from deep over the past two games while shooting at just a 22.6 (7-31) percent clip.
• Mason ranks second in the A-10 in rebounding margin (+5.4). The Patriots are a perfect 9-0 when winning the battle on the boards this season.
• The victory over Bridgewater improved Mason to 7-0 at home this season. The Patriots have won 21 of their past 23 games inside EagleBank Arena.
• With wins in the team's final two non-league games, George Mason would match the program's Div. I record for non-conference victories (11), set during the 2019-20 campaign.
HISTORY vs. AAC FOES
Mason has tallied a 44-23 all time record against opponents from the American Athletic Conference. The bulk of those contests came against East Carolina (34-15) when both programs were a part of the CAA. The Patriots' other most common AAC foes are Wichita State (3-2), Charlotte (3-1) and Tulane (2-1). Friday's game against the Green Wave will mark Mason's third against an AAC foe this season. The Patriots defeated East Carolina, 81-59, on Nov. 25 in Fairfax and fell to Charlotte, 54-49, on Nov. 19 in the Jacksonville Classic."