After their break for finals, George Mason (5-6) will take on their former CAA foe, Navy (3-6), at EagleBank Arena for their second-to-last game of 2018.
Navy will look to rebound after a rough 107-87 loss to Lipscomb, while Mason is coming off a win against James Madison.
For comparison, both teams have faced Morgan State this season with Navy losing on the road to the Bears 75-51, and Mason winning at home 82-75. These two teams have a history dating back to the ECAC South Conference, which was the predecessor to the CAA conference.
This game will mark the 24th overall meeting between the two programs, the last taking place in the semifinal round of the 1991 CAA Tournament 28 years ago with Mason downing the Mids 93-86 in overtime.
BREAKING DOWN NAVY
The Mids were picked to finish 3rd in the Patriot League this year in the preseason poll, and Navy is currently ranked 316th by KenPom, so Mason should be able to beat this team.
Hopefully.
Some notable players:
- After their 20-12 (11-7 PL) and third place regular season finish last season, Navy returns two starters and 13 players in all from last year’s team.
- Sophomore Cam Davis leads the Mids in threes made (14), scoring with 103 points (11.4 ppg), and average minutes (30.6).
- Senior George Kiernan shoots a team-high 88.5 percent from the line and currently sits second on the team in scoring (10.8 ppg).
- Freshman John Carter Jr. leads the Mids in rebounding (5.8 rpg), and averages 9.2 points per game this season.
BREAKING DOWN MASON
Some notable stats:
- Through the 23-game series, George Mason leads the Mids 14-9.
- The Patriots have won seven of the 10 previous games in the series that have been played on their home court.
- It has been over 30 years since Navy’s last road win in the series, it was during the 1986-87 season.
- During the CAA (1986-1991) George Mason held an 8-5 advantage over Navy, as well as a 4-2 record when both programs were in the ECAC South Conference (1982-85).
- Otis Livingston II led the way in scoring against James Madison with 21 points going 6-13 from the field, 2-6 from three and a perfect 7-7 from the line.
- Justin Kier added 16 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals. He went 6-13 from the field, 0-2 from three, and 4-6 from the charity stripe.
- Mason recorded 40 points in the paint for the first time this season.
- If you haven’t already checked out #HandShakeGate, check it out below.
RELATED: James Madison’s Coach Louis Rowe refuses to shake Dave Paulsen’s hand after multiple technicals
The game is set to tip-off at 7:00 ET and is available to watch on ESPN+.
My Prediction: A Mason “W”
Tell me what you think will happen in the comments below!
