Prince William Reporter

George Mason Falls in Wednesday Night Contest at VCU

The George Mason University men's basketball team dropped a 72-52 contest at VCU Wednesday night inside the Siegel Center.
 
Senior Josh Oduro led the Patriots with 19 points and made 8-of-11 shots in 30 minutes. It marked his sixth-straight game with at least 17 points.
 
Oduro's effort could not help Mason overcome a VCU club which shot 50 percent (25-50) from the floor and held a 35-24 edge on the glass. The Rams enjoyed a 11-3 advantage in second chance points and a 29-6 edge in bench scoring.
 
The Patriots were without starting point guard Ronald Polite III, who missed the game due to a lower leg injury.
 
"VCU deserves a ton of credit. College basketball rewards the harder playing team. I felt like they were that tonight," head coach Kim English said. "That's disappointing for a coach to say, no matter roster availability and injuries. That last group we put out there, they tried their best and played harder. We have to recover, bounce back and return home."
 
Graduate guard Victor Bailey Jr. added 12 points (3-7 3pt FG) while freshman point guard Devin Dinkins filled in nicely for Polite III with eight points (3-5 FG) and two rebounds. Fellow freshman Justyn Fernandez added seven points (3-5 FG) in his homecoming to Richmond.
 
The Rams hit seven of their first nine shots and jumped out to a 22-11 advantage at the 11:21 mark of the opening half. With the Patriots trailing 30-21, VCU closed the half on a 9-2 run to take a 39-23 advantage into the break.
 
Mason moved back within 10 after an Oduro bucket made it 43-33 at the 15:31 mark of the second half. But VCU responded with a 9-2 run to go up 52-35, and Mason could not move closer than 14 for the remainder of the game.
 
George Mason returns home for a nationally-televised Sunday matinee vs. Saint Joseph's. Tip-off between the Patriots and Hawks inside EagleBank Arena is set for 12 p.m. The game will be broadcast on USA Network.
  

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