#MasonGameDay George Mason vs. Mercer

57
1411

mercer

This Saturday the George Mason Patriots (5-3) look to extend their longest winning streak in three years by hosting Mercer (4-3) at EagleBank Arena.

George Mason has won four straight games dating back to the Gulf Coast Showcase. The biggest win came earlier this week against Northern Iowa, who was previously ranked fourth in the national RPI.

Mercer is coming off of a 78-57 loss to another Atlantic 10 opponent, Davidson. The Bears, from the Southern Conference, have non-conference wins against Georgia Southern, Radford, and East Carolina.

RELATED: CATCH UP ON #JUMPBALL FOR LATEST A10 NEWS

It will be another team the Patriots will face that has a strong shooting game. On the year, Mercer has a 43.5 percent field goal percentage with a 34.0 percent field goal percentage from behind the arc. A majority of their scoring comes from juniors, Ria’n Holland (18.6 points per game) and Demetre Rivers (11.0) points per game.

Last game, the Patriots’ defense held the previously hot shooting Northern Iowa Panthers to only 26 percent.

Although the team has runs a traditional offensive set with two guards, two forwards, and a center. The height advantage does not favor either team. Jalen Jenkins (9.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg) will have his hands full defensively in the post, but Troy Temara and Daniel Relvao have proven their spot in the rotation to take relief off Jenkins.

As a result, fast-break opportunities will be the perfect opportunity for Mason to take control of the contest.

The Patriots do not have many steals on the season but they can quickly run the floor. Otis Livingston II is the primary focal point of transition chances for Mason. Using his vision, speed, and senior-level decision making, almost every fast break possession turns into points for the Patriots.

Despite a slow start from Livingston, the 2016 A10 All-Rookie team selection is averaging 13.8 points, and 3.1 assists per game. The sophomore guard has becomes Mason’s biggest three point threat (38.2 percent), and leads the team with 13 long range baskets.

While Mason is a second half team, the Patriots can circumvent this by using the leading scorer, Marquise Moore, to attack early. Mercer does not have a deep bench and relies on their starters to score, if Moore can penetrate the paint early and pick up foul calls, the Bears would get into early foul trouble. The senior is sixth in Division I basketball in free throw attempts with 71.

On the year, Moore is nearly averaging a double-double with 16.9 ppg and 9.8 rpg. As a 6’2” guard his rebounding numbers are the 32nd best in the entire country.

READ AGAIN: GEORGE MASON UPSETS NORTHERN IOWA

Familiar with opponents that rely on ball movement, the Bears will be no different. The Patriots have improved their defense against the pass-heavy teams as the season has gone on, culminating with the Northern Iowa upset. Mercer dishes out nearly 14 assists a game but also turn the ball over on average 12 times a game.

This is the third time these two schools have played against each other, with the all-time series standing at one game apiece. Mercer won the meeting last year 69-60, where Livingston had 17 points and five assists. Only five current Bears played in last year’s matchup, three coming off the bench.

Prediction: George Mason 68     Mercer     61

57 COMMENTS

  1. Hello! I’ve been following your blog for a long time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Austin Tx! Just wanted to say keep up the great job!

  2. Hello! I could have sworn Iíve been to your blog before but after looking at a few of the articles I realized itís new to me. Anyhow, Iím certainly delighted I stumbled upon it and Iíll be book-marking it and checking back regularly!

  3. Aw, this was a very nice post. Taking the time and actual effort to produce a very good articleÖ but what can I sayÖ I procrastinate a whole lot and never manage to get anything done.

  4. Hi, I do believe this is a great blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will return yet again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.

  5. Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Very useful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was seeking this certain information for a long time. Thank you and good luck.

  6. Its touch enabled and metro tiles features are making excellent. Technologizer’s Harry McCracken has a list of what still is missing within Windows 8 preview. You also can test fascinating from Sound options.

  7. I do like the way you have framed this particular concern and it really does supply me personally a lot of fodder for thought. Nevertheless, from everything that I have witnessed, I simply hope when other commentary stack on that individuals keep on issue and in no way get started upon a soap box regarding some other news of the day. All the same, thank you for this excellent point and while I can not concur with it in totality, I respect the viewpoint.

  8. I think this is among the most vital info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on few general things, The web site style is ideal, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers

  9. Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  10. An fascinating discussion is value comment. I believe that you must write more on this subject, it won’t be a taboo subject but generally persons are not sufficient to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  11. After study a number of of the weblog posts on your web site now, and I actually like your means of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site listing and might be checking back soon. Pls check out my website as properly and let me know what you think.

  12. Hey there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the fantastic work!

  13. Thank you for every other informative website. The place else may I get that kind of information written in such a perfect manner? I have a undertaking that I’m simply now operating on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.

  14. I have been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.

  15. Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and net and this is actually annoying. A good website with exciting content, that’s what I need. Thank you for keeping this web site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here