Fourth Estate/Mitchell Richtmyre
The Patriots picked up a signature win in thrilling fashion
BY GABRIEL KING, SPORTS EDITOR
Mason men’s basketball upset No. 16 Dayton 71-67 on Wednesday night for its third straight victory. The Patriots (18-8, 7-6 Atlantic 10) used a 19-0 second half run to stun the Flyers (21-5, 11-3).
The victory is Mason’s highest-ranked win since the Patriots defeated No. 2 Connecticut in the 2006 Elite Eight. “That’s a big-time win for George Mason basketball. I’m proud of these guys,” Head Coach Tony Skinn said. After shooting 33.3% in the first half, the Patriots shot 70.6% and outscored the Flyers 44-34 in the second half.
Freshman guard Baraka Okojie led the Patriots with 19 points, all in the second half, shooting 9-9 from the free-throw line. Okojie sealed the victory with two free throws after Dayton cut Mason’s lead to two with 18 seconds remaining. “To be able to go down and just knock down 9-9 at the free-throw line … That’s ballgame right there,” Skinn said.
Fourth Estate/Mitchell Richtmyre
Despite the return of Darius Maddox, Okojie started his third consecutive game for the Patriots. The freshman erupted in the second half after a quiet first half, which propelled Mason to a monumental win. “I came out in the second half and just decided to attack their defense,” Okojie said.
The Patriots outrebounded the Flyers 33-27, led by six rebounds from Keyshawn Hall. “We just had to make sure we had our technique right for our defense. Closing out the right way and boxing out,” Hall said. Hall also scored 17 points and shot 9-10 from the free-throw line.
Mason fed off the energy from a raucous crowd throughout the game. “It was amazing. I feel like this is the best game of the year for us. I love the fans,” Hall said. The victory is the Patriots’ first home win against a nationally-ranked opponent in program history.
Fourth Estate/Mitchell Richtmyre
Dayton was led by 26 points from All-American candidate DaRon Holmes II. Holmes shot 8-15 from the field and 2-4 on 3-pointers, but was the only Flyer to score in double figures.
With the win, the Patriots now sit in sixth place in the Atlantic 10. Mason is two games back of VCU for fourth place in the conference. Dayton fell out of first place with the loss, as the Flyers now sit in third behind Richmond and Loyola Chicago.
Following their historic victory, the Patriots will look to carry the momentum into the final five regular season games. “This is what the standard needs to be… The belief is there. And now we’ve just got to be able to flip the page and keep that rolling,” Skinn said.
Mason will begin a two-game road stretch against Loyola Chicago on Saturday. The Patriots lost to the Ramblers in Fairfax on Feb. 7. Mason will then travel to the Bronx to play Fordham on Feb. 27.