Patriots Clash with St. Bonaventure in Olean Showdown This Tuesday!

LOCATION: Reilly Center – Olean, N.Y.
TIME: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS: George Mason (14-5, 5-1), St. Bonaventure (15-4, 3-3)
MATCHUP HISTORY: George Mason trails, 5-12
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GAME NOTES: Click here (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men’s basketball squad (14-5, 5-1) heads to the Empire State for a Tuesday evening clash against St. Bonaventure (15-4, 3-3).

The tip-off between the Patriots and Bonnies is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday’s matchup will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+, featuring analysis from Brendan McDaniels and Adam Bennett. Additionally, Voice of the Patriots Bill Rohland will provide commentary on the GoMason Digital Network, with streaming coverage starting at 6:45 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS

• The Patriots have secured four consecutive victories and have triumphed in 12 of their last 14 contests. GM is coming off a thrilling double overtime win against GW on Saturday. The Patriots overcame a 10-point deficit (50-40) with 10:41 remaining and resisted several Revolutionary surges.

• The victory elevated the Patriots to 5-1 in A-10 play for the first instance since the 2018-19 season, when GM began 7-1.

• Presently, the Patriots occupy the top position in the Atlantic 10 and are two games ahead of fifth place in the league standings.

• Saturday’s triumph marked the Patriots’ first double overtime win since a 87-85 victory at Saint Joseph’s on Jan. 20, 2021.

• Senior Darius Maddox recorded 17 points and a season-high six rebounds in the victory. Over the last three games, he’s averaging 18.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and shooting 51.2 percent from the field (.444 from 3-point range).

• Jalen Haynes contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, while K.D. Johnson posted a season-high 15 points, five rebounds, three steals and three assists in a season-best 34 minutes.

• GM has held its opponents below 40 percent shooting in 73.7 percent (14 of 19) of their games this season. Since 1998-99, GM’s highest rate of restricting opponents under 40 percent occurred in 20 of 33 games in 2008-09 (.606).

• The Patriots have a record of 12-1 when achieving 30 percent or higher shooting from beyond the arc this season.

• George Mason ranks third nationally in field goal defense (.364), along with a strong ranking in two-point defense (4th, .413) and effective FG defense (7th, .432). The Patriots are 12th in scoring defense (62.7 ppg allowed) and 26th in overall defensive efficiency (0.963 points/possession).

• George Mason stands 23rd nationally in free throw attempts per game (24.2) and converted 72 percent from the foul line in non-conference play. Nonetheless, GM has faced difficulties at the stripe during A-10 matchups, shooting at a rate of 66.9 percent (97-145) in those games.

• Maddox is merely three 3-pointers away from becoming the 20th player to achieve 100 triples in a George Mason uniform.

• Senior Jared Billups secured a career-best 16 rebounds against GW. This marked the second instance of a Patriot achieving 16 rebounds this season, as Jalen Haynes also accomplished this feat against Mt. St. Mary’s on Dec. 28.

• Tuesday’s game initiates a period where the Patriots will compete in three of their next four matchups away from home.

• George Mason has won its first four A-10 home games for the first time since joining the league in 2013-14.

• The Patriots rank 82nd nationally in the Jan. 20 NET. GM also sits at 83rd in the Ken Pomeroy rankings.

HISTORY vs. ST. BONAVENTURE

Tuesday’s encounter marks the 18th overall encounter between Mason and SBU. The Bonnies possess a 12-5 lead in the series, with an 11-3 advantage since Mason became part of the A-10 in 2013-14. However, the Patriots have emerged victorious in two of the last three confrontations. GM aims to secure its first win in Olean since December 2004. The Bonnies enjoy a 7-1 edge at the Reilly Center. Last season, the Patriots achieved a 69-60 victory in Fairfax on January 20, 2024. Darius Maddox contributed 10 points in that success.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BONNIES (15-4, 3-3 A-10; NET #84, KenPom #89)

St. Bonaventure was predicted to finish 10th in the A-10 preseason poll, yet the Bonnies made an impression during the non-conference phase with a 12-1 record, including a 74-70 victory against Providence. SBU is 3-3 to start A-10 play and boasts a home win over preseason league frontrunner VCU. The Bonnies are positioned 78th nationally in overall defensive efficiency (1.012 points/possession allowed) and commit only 12.9 fouls per game (7th lowest in the nation). Chance Moore leads the squad in scoring (14.9 ppg) and records a team-high 7.7 rebounds per contest. Melvin Council Jr. averages 14.2 points per contest, tops the A-10 with 2.4 steals per game, and dishes out a team-leading 4.0 assists per game. Noel Brown (12.7 ppg), Dasonte Bowen (11.1 ppg), and Lajae Jones (10.8 ppg, 48.3 3pt FG%) also contribute in double figures for the Bonnies.

UPCOMING MATCHUP

George Mason will take a weekend break from Atlantic 10 competition before rejoining the fray next Wednesday (Jan. 29) with a home encounter against Loyola Chicago. The tip-off between the Patriots and Ramblers is set for 7 p.m. The game will be aired on ESPN+.