On Sunday, George Mason (11-4, 0-2) faced St. Bonaventure (10-5, 2-0) in their second game of their two-game homestand.
The first half started great for the Patriots, they were knocking down threes with ease. Justin Kier was a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc. Jordan Miller and Javon Greene added 2 of their own. The Bona’s shooting always seemed to bounce off the back iron or just rim out, Mason was very lucky to get out of this half up by 4.
The Patriots finished the half going 11-27 from the field, 7-12 from three-point range and recorded 9 assists, 8 steals, 8 turnovers, and a dismal 13 rebounds. Those rebounds were coming off the backs off Kier and Greene, Hartwell. No other player recorded more than 1 rebound in this half. That might work for a couple of minutes in a game but is not sustainable over the course of the game if you’d like to win.
After a weak start to the half, the Bona’s recouped themselves and went on a 14-4 run to end the half, bringing the lead into grasp. The Bonnies finished this half going 11-30 from the floor, 2-8 from behind the arc, and recorded 23 rebounds (most from Osunniyi), 3 assists, and 11 turnovers.
In the second half, everything changed.
After being up by as much as 15 in the first half, Mason lost their lead 4 minutes into the second half.
George Mason scored 18 points, going 8-23 from the field, 1-10 from three, and recorded 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 7 turnovers.
For Bona, they scored 34 points, going 14-34 from the field, 6-12 from three, and recorded 21 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 turnovers.
GEORGE MASON FALLS AGAIN 61-49 to ST. BONAVENTURE
Some things from this one:
Justin Kier was vital in the Patriots’ energetic first-half start but went cold as soon as the second half started. He finished this game going 4-8 from the floor, 3-6 from behind the arc, and recorded 4 rebounds.
In the VCU game, the Patriots were out-rebounded by a count of 40-25. In this game, the Patriots were out-rebounded by a count of 44-24. Somehow it got worse and Paulsen needs to fix this like, now.
Javon Greene was also hitting threes to start the first half, but like Kier, went cold in the second half. He finished going 3-13 from the field, 3-9 from three and recorded 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal.
#MasonNation knows this connection too well!@Jkiiiiii__ ➡️ @_javon23 = 3️⃣#GetPatriotic pic.twitter.com/SlqqYvZ0tQ
— George Mason Men's Basketball (@MasonMBB) January 9, 2020
Jordan Miller had a decent game. He finished going 2-7 from the floor, 2-4 from behind the arc, and recorded 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Here’s one of his threes to start the half.
An 11-0 run for the Patriots!
Capped off by a @Jordan_miller11 👌
Mason 11, Bonnies 4 (14:52 1H).#GetPatriotic | #MasonNation pic.twitter.com/v2RL26masF
— George Mason Men's Basketball (@MasonMBB) January 9, 2020
The Patriots defense crumbled again in the second half, allowing too many points in the paint and easy drives to the basket. This cannot be a trend for conference play.
That’s all I have to say on this team, not much to stay with these kinds of performances in A-10 play.
