RICHMOND, VA- Survive and advance baby!!
6-seed George Mason defeated 11-seed George Washington 73-59 last night at the Robins Center to advance to fact 3-seed Davidson today for a chance to advance to the A-10 Semifinals for the first time ever. Let’s talk about this one real quick!
First and foremost, we gotta shoutout AJ Wilson. While it wasn’t the biggest night on the stat sheet for him with 6 points and 6 rebounds, the two blocks he had tonight moved him into a tie with George Evans for the most all-time blocks in program history. You gotta think that AJ is going to come out like a shot-swatting machine against Davidson, hungry for that record. We all know it’s something he’s been hungry for this entire season. Time will tell if he will capture sole first place.
Secondly, HOW ABOUT RONALD POLITE FOLKS! In just 26 minutes, the guy dropped a career-high 17 points, shattering his old record by a wide margin. His shots we’re just run of the mill average-joe shots: he hit some timely buckets, including a HUGE three in the waning minutes of the game.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Jordan Miller dropping a cool 19 points and 10 boards, a bunch of which were in the first half when Mason looked beyond dead in the water offensively.
Look, this game wasn’t always pretty. They shot 27% in the first half and made just six field goals.
My heart rate is currently 111 for anyone wondering. #A10MBB #RevRivalry
— Daniel Frank (@n1a2v3y4) March 4, 2021
But credit the guys for sticking with it. As both Jamal Hartwell II and Ronald Polite talked about postgame, they’ve been down before. They never felt the need to panic.
Half | GW 25 Mason 22.
Mason made just 6 field goals in the first half. GW made 8.Oduro, Johnson, Wilson, Hartwell and Frazier have 2 fouls for Mason. Lindo has 2 for GW. #A10MBB
— Daniel Frank (@n1a2v3y4) March 4, 2021
And to GW’s credit, they started the second half well, opening up on an 8-2 run, to take a 31-24 lead. The lead almost ballooned to 10, but a three from James Bishop just rimmed out. DP called timeout, and just let into his team, calling them out.
Dave Paulsen was extremely animated during that last timeout, yelling at his team, "Empty the f—ing tank."
Patriots are down 31-26 with 17:21 left to play. GW definitively looks like the team that wants it more right now. #A10MBB
— Daniel Frank (@n1a2v3y4) March 4, 2021
And credit Mason here. They came out of the timeout with a new-found spark, running off 14 straight points to take a 46-38 lead midway through the second half. It was a lead they would not relinquish.
HERE. COMES. MASON.
— A10 Talk (@A10Talk) March 5, 2021
Even when GW tried to put together a rally, pulling to within five a coupe of times, Mason stayed the course. The defining moment came with 6:54 left to play, after James Bishop had cut the deficit down to 52-47. Ronald Polite hit a three from the left-wing and just drilled it. The bench went nuts, and you just felt like the tides had turned.
The Ronald Polite Game. #A10MBB
— Daniel Frank (@n1a2v3y4) March 5, 2021
As GW faded down the stretch, Mason kicked it into high gear, and put the hammer down on the Colonials. They ran off 9 straight points punctuated by this AJ Wilson slam:
AJ EXCLAMATION POINT ‼️‼️‼️@Aj12Wilson | #GetPatriotic pic.twitter.com/TBKTsSi86J
— Mason Men's Basketball (@MasonMBB) March 5, 2021
Mason wrapped up the dub, 73-59, and advanced to face Davidson today at 5:30 on NBCSN. If they advance, they will face the winner of VCU and Dayton. The boys are heating up at the right time, let’s see if they can keep it up!
YES, FIVE IN A ROW pic.twitter.com/xsiVX2dHXr
— Did Mason Win? (@DidMasonWin) March 5, 2021
