As the Patriots continue to do damage control, George Mason (14-11, 3-9) will take on Richmond (19-6, 9-3) for the first time this season.
The Patriots somehow pulled off a win against VCU on the road but then blew any kind of momentum away after losing (for the second time this season) to George Washington at home.
This contest will mark the 64th meeting overall between the Spiders and the Patriots, with Richmond leading the series 38-25. Mason leads the series when in Fairfax, 15-12, and has played inconsistently in A-10 play.
Like I said in my last Richmond preview, I have a bad feeling about this.
Breaking Down Richmond
Richmond is 19-6 this season, the Spiders best record through 25 games since 2010-11. That year, the Spiders won a school-record 29 games and advanced to the NCAA’s Sweet 16
Grant Golden was named A-10 Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 15.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 68 percent from the field in a pair of Spiders blowout wins last week. Richmond joins Dayton and Saint Louis as the only schools with three different players to win A-10 Player of the Week this season.
Golden burned the Patriots in their last meeting, Mason needs defense. Long overdue.
Breaking Down George Mason
Xavier Johnson is averaging 14 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and shooting 52.9 percent over the past two games, while Oduro is at 9.3 points and 9.0 rebounds over the past three contests.
Mason is 2-7 since senior star Justin Kier re-injured his foot (fracture) on Jan. 14.
I’m still really just disappointed in this team.
The Patriots have set themselves up to be a bottom four team.
Heck, St. Joe’s just won their first A-10 game.
Mason needs a win, but I don’t see them getting one.
My Prediction: A Mason “L”
See you there.
