HOLY SH***********T MASON WON!!!!!!!!
There’s so many things to say about this game, I don’t know where to start!!!
George Mason defeated UMass tonight 93-92 in 2OT in Amherst. And because 2020 is freaking 2020, Mason sits in just a four-way tie for first place in the Atlantic 10 with VCU, Richmond and…GW? Sure, why the hell not. FIRST PLACE BABY!
GEORGE MASON AND GEORGE WASHINGTON ARE IN FIRST PLACE IN THE ATLANTIC 10. 2020 GOING OUT WITH A BANG. pic.twitter.com/dnH5xMGPAM
— Daniel Frank (@n1a2v3y4) December 31, 2020
Updated @A10MBB Standings:
1-0 VCU
1-0 Richmond
1-0 George Mason
1-0 George Washington
1-1 Davidson
1-1 Rhode Island
1-1 UMass
1-1 La Salle
0-0 Saint Louis
0-0 Duquesne
0-1 Dayton
0-1 St. Bonaventure
0-1 Fordham
0-1 Saint Joseph's #Hey10 #A10MBB— Daniel Frank (@n1a2v3y4) December 31, 2020
This was by far the most bizarre and unusual game I have ever seen. Mason and UMass BOTH looked like a flaming pile of garbage for like the first 36 minutes of the game tonight. Javon Greene got benched for Mason, and everything looked horrific.
Not looking great, Bob pic.twitter.com/6iOWruNDW8
— By George. (@ByGeorgeGMU) December 31, 2020
Just when it looked like Mason was dead, Tyler Kolek willed this team back into it.
2 point game pic.twitter.com/npNso2Eozr
— By George. (@ByGeorgeGMU) December 31, 2020
Tyler was then fouled shooting a three with seven seconds left in regulation, and he proceeded to drain all three to force overtime.
THREE CLUTCH FREE THROWS FROM KOLEK.
CALIXTE STRIPS MITCHELL.
OVERTIME IN AMHERST.
— Mason Men's Basketball (@MasonMBB) December 31, 2020
UMass led by as many as six points in the first overtime, but a pair of late Jamal Hartwell II threes forced a SECOND overtime!
INGLEWOOD 3 FOR DOUBLE OT!
That’s tough from @Li1Mal 💪
80-80. Let’s get it. pic.twitter.com/SUmvBHzwJx
— Mason Men's Basketball (@MasonMBB) December 31, 2020
Big time three from Hartwell and we got double OT! pic.twitter.com/bzYiW8ZBdD
— Ryan Kish (@gmuhoops) December 31, 2020
Mason looked dead in the water to start the fourth period. They got down 6 points in 45 seconds, and fouled out Haidara, the FITFH Patriot to foul out tonight. But they battled back. They somehow found a way.
Jamal Hartwell II AGAIN hit a HUGE three, this time giving Mason the lead with 26 seconds left!
🔥🔥🔥@Li1Mal pic.twitter.com/3WDrPyqXbH
— Mason Men's Basketball (@MasonMBB) December 31, 2020
But then, UMass was fouled shooting. But only made 1/2 free throws! Jordan Miller drove down, and was fouled himself. He made 1/2 free throws to give Mason the win!!!
1-0 in the A-10 pic.twitter.com/qJoh8bT5w9
— Ryan Kish (@gmuhoops) December 31, 2020
YES 2OT!! pic.twitter.com/HfmUCCf90R
— Did Mason Win? (@DidMasonWin) December 31, 2020
PATRIOTS WIN IN DOUBLE OT!
THEEEEEEE PATRIOTS WIN! pic.twitter.com/MX1YnF71iF
— Mason Men's Basketball (@MasonMBB) December 31, 2020
Final/2OT:
UMass 93
Mason 92WHAT. A. FREAKING. GAME. It took nearly 3 hours, an instant classic for sure!!!!
— A10 Talk (@A10Talk) December 31, 2020
There’s been so much noise around this team the last week or so since the Norfolk State loss, and rightfully so. There’s still a lot of concerning things about this team, not the least of which being Javon Greene’s benching, and seemingly complete disinterest in the game from the bench. I think this three tweet thread sums up tonight perfectly:
Also, before the euphoria wears off, obviously we’re all happy about this win, and we should be! But this doesn’t discount, discredit or erase any of the concerns the fanbase expressed this past week
— Joe Campione (@jcamp459) December 31, 2020
We’re all Mason fans (or is “fans” en vogue now? I’ve lost track) and we’re all passionate about our school and our program, so it’s understandable we will voice those concerns when we’re dissatisfied. And trust me, I’d rather hear concerned voices than no voices at all
— Joe Campione (@jcamp459) December 31, 2020
Ultimately, I hope that we are all proven wrong and this team does heavy damage in the A10 because what else can we really hope for? We’re all on the same team here, we all want this program to have success, so hopefully today was step one
— Joe Campione (@jcamp459) December 31, 2020
As Joe said, the frustrations long term with the program remain valid. But at the end of the game, all any of us want is the team to do well. That’s why its so frustrating when they don’t. We get pissed off BECAUSE WE CARE. I think that gets lost sometimes. Tonight very well might just be a flash in the pan, a one-off win. But for tonight, this is how we’re feeling:
.@PaulsenDave demanded “Show me what you got!” to our guys at the beginning of this trip…
So far, so good! 🔰 pic.twitter.com/D4oOIKNbAH
— Mason Men's Basketball (@MasonMBB) December 31, 2020
