Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate
The Patriots regular season finale ahead of the A10 tournament
BY MICAHI OPPONG, STAFF WRITER
After winning two of their last four games, the Patriots are currently 23-7 and 14-3 in conference play ahead of their final game of the Atlantic 10 regular season. Losing 70–54 to the VCU Rams on Saturday, Feb. 22, the Patriots allowed the Rams to go on a 15-0 second-half run, losing both the game and first place in the A-10.
Senior guards Darius Maddox and K.D. Johnson led the team with 12 points, and senior forward Jaylen Haynes nearly notched a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Mason lost the turnover battle, 14-9, and allowed the Rams to shoot over 50% from the field and 40% from three in the second half.
On Wednesday, Feb. 26, the Patriots got back in the win column, holding on for their 16th home win of the season against the Fordham Rams, 74-64. Haynes tied his Mason career high with 25 points and seven rebounds. Maddox followed with 14 points and five rebounds. Both teams combined for 55 fouls and 71 free throw attempts, making it a slow and monotonous watch for fans and players alike.
“There were a lot of things that I thought were self-sabotaging,” said Mason Head Coach Tony Skinn. “But at the end of the day, we don’t live for individual stuff. We got the win and that’s all that matters.”
The game started with a quick steal from Maddox, leading to quick points from Haynes–a sign of things to come for his strong performance. The Rams kept the action close throughout the first half with the help of their backcourt duo.
Mason led 32-24 at halftime, but Fordham opened the second half with an 8–0 run. This woke the Patriots up, sparking a 10–0 run of their own. Mason sealed the win down the stretch with an emphatic steal and dunk by junior guard Brayden O’Connor. Mason held Fordham to just 33.9% shooting from the field and an abysmal 20.7% from the three, with another exceptional defensive performance from senior guard Jared Billups, who finished with eight rebounds, three steals, and three blocks.
“He is the heart and soul of us defensively, anchoring our defense in so many ways,” Skinn said. “If anyone doesn’t think that Jared Billups is the Defensive Player of the Year, then they’re just not watching George Mason basketball.”
Later in the week, on Saturday, Mar. 1, the Patriots went on the road and fell to the Duquesne Dukes, 68–85. Haynes led the team with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Johnson followed with 11 points and three steals. Twenty turnovers and 15 three-pointers from the Dukes proved costly for Mason, marking the most three-pointers they have allowed since 2021.
Honoring its seniors on Wednesday, Mar. 5, Mason picked up a win on Senior Night, defeating the La Salle Explorers 69-62 and finished undefeated at home in the A-10. O’Connor had the best game of his career, scoring 26 points, dishing five assists, and making all eight of his free throws. Haynes contributed 22 points and ten rebounds, while Maddox scored 17 points and recorded three steals.
“I had a good game tonight because of my teammates”, O’Connor said. “We’re going into the final stretch of the season, in order for us to keep playing at our best, I think everybody has to be at their best.”
The final game of the season is on the road against Richmond on Saturday, Mar. 8. Richmond is another bottom-three team in the conference, sitting just one game ahead of La Salle with a worse overall record at 10-20.
“I’d like to finish 15 and 3 in conference play, I’m going to dream that,” Skinn said. “However, we can only control what we can control, teams that want it the most play the best in March. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you’re going to get the best of everyone”.
With A-10 tournament seeding still at stake, a statement win against Richmond is pivotal heading into championship play.
The Patriots are ready for deep March basketball and the madness that comes with it, leaving little time to reflect on what has been an historic regular season, including Mason’s first double-bye in school history.
Mason’s A-10 tournament play begins Friday, Mar. 14, at Capital One Arena, airing exclusively on USA Network. The regular-season finale against the Spiders is set for Saturday, Mar. 8, with tipoff at 6 p.m., broadcasting only on ESPN+.