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Peter Solari, Editor in Chief Follow @4PeteSakeNY
Justin Kier led the way once again, recording his sixth double-double in seven games, and the George Mason men's basketball team used a balanced attack to cruise to an 84-67 win over Rhode Island at the Ryan Center in Kingston, Sunday night. The Patriots are now 3-1 in the Atlantic 10 and 9-8 overall.
Early on, this contest was a back-and-forth affair, with six lead changes in the first half, including the Rams going up 12-11 at the 11:43 mark. But that would be Rhode Island's final lead of the game.
Four Patriots scored at least 14 points, and defensively, they kept the Rams in check and responded to their recent loss against Davidson in an impressive way, coasting to an easy win.
“They beat us for 40 straight minutes today,” URI coach David Cox said. “Embarrassing effort on our behalf. We were out-coached, out-played and out-worked thoroughly. The result was an almost 20-point loss on our home court.”
Here's more from George Mason University Athletics:
To go along with Kier's game-high 19 points, and team-high 10 rebounds, Mason got contributions from several of their top players, including sophomore Javon Greene, who dropped 15 points, and senior Otis Livingston, who scored 15 points and dished out a game-high 7 assists.
Filling in for injured sophomore Goanar Mar, who fractured his foot in the Davidson game, freshman Jordan Miller made his collegiate debut, and was an instant sensation, adding 14 points, 2 steals and 2 blocks for the Patriots off the bench. Junior Jarred Reuter also had 8 points and 7 rebounds for George Mason
"That was a great effort for our guys," Mason coach Dave Paulsen said. "They rallied around the absence of Goanar Mar, they banded together and they defended exceptionally well. There were a lot of good contributions from a lot of guys."
Rhode Island was led by Cyril Langevine and Jeff Dowtin, who scored 15 points apiece. Langevine also had a game high 14 rebounds.
The loss drops the Rams to 1-2 in the A-10 and 8-7 overall.
In two contests this past week, Kier, Mason's budding superstar, averaged 22.5 points and 11 rebounds, and on Monday, he was named the A-10's Player of the Week.
And Kier is earning early praise as a potential, albeit early, candidate for the league's Player of the Year award, as well.
As a team, the Patriots are finally showing signs of why they had such high expectations heading into this season in the first place, and the rest of the A-10 is taking notice.
Next up, Mason continues its swing through New England, with a matchup against UMass in Amherst this Wednesday, January 16th.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM ET. The game will be televised in New England on 11 Sports/NESN+, and will also be available on ESPN+
Justin Kier led the way once again, recording his sixth double-double in seven games, and the George Mason men's basketball team used a balanced attack to cruise to an 84-67 win over Rhode Island at the Ryan Center in Kingston, Sunday night. The Patriots are now 3-1 in the Atlantic 10 and 9-8 overall.
Early on, this contest was a back-and-forth affair, with six lead changes in the first half, including the Rams going up 12-11 at the 11:43 mark. But that would be Rhode Island's final lead of the game.
Four Patriots scored at least 14 points, and defensively, they kept the Rams in check and responded to their recent loss against Davidson in an impressive way, coasting to an easy win.
George Mason 84, #URI 67. Patriots led for the final 31:17. #Rams missed their first 15 attempts from 3-point range and generally failed to turn up for their #A10MBB home opener.— Bill Koch (@BillKoch25) January 14, 2019
“They beat us for 40 straight minutes today,” URI coach David Cox said. “Embarrassing effort on our behalf. We were out-coached, out-played and out-worked thoroughly. The result was an almost 20-point loss on our home court.”
Here's more from George Mason University Athletics:
The Patriots limited Rhody to 35.3 percent in the first half to jump out to a 38-27 lead at the break. Mason went up by as many as 17 (58-41) at the 12-minute mark of the second half, but URI stormed back to get within seven (66-59) with 6:54 remaining. But Mason made key plays when it needed to, and used a late 9-0 run to put the game out of reach for the Rams. Four Patriots posted at least 14 points in the game, while Mason's stable of perimeter defenders limited URI stars Jeff Dowtin and Fatts Russell to a combined 11-of-31 mark (.355) from the floor and 0-12 clip from 3-point territory. Mason held the Rams to just 12 percent (3-25) from beyond the arc for the game.
To go along with Kier's game-high 19 points, and team-high 10 rebounds, Mason got contributions from several of their top players, including sophomore Javon Greene, who dropped 15 points, and senior Otis Livingston, who scored 15 points and dished out a game-high 7 assists.
Filling in for injured sophomore Goanar Mar, who fractured his foot in the Davidson game, freshman Jordan Miller made his collegiate debut, and was an instant sensation, adding 14 points, 2 steals and 2 blocks for the Patriots off the bench. Junior Jarred Reuter also had 8 points and 7 rebounds for George Mason
BURG Sports followers, we would like to congratulate Loudoun Valley Viking alum, Jordan Miller, for making his college basketball debut, helping George Mason defeat Rhode Island 84 to 67. Miller had 14 points in the game @MasonMBB @lvhsviking @VikingStrongLV @ValleyBoosters pic.twitter.com/SBcgZHz3kx— BURG Sports Network (@BURGSportsnet) January 14, 2019
"That was a great effort for our guys," Mason coach Dave Paulsen said. "They rallied around the absence of Goanar Mar, they banded together and they defended exceptionally well. There were a lot of good contributions from a lot of guys."
Rhode Island was led by Cyril Langevine and Jeff Dowtin, who scored 15 points apiece. Langevine also had a game high 14 rebounds.
The loss drops the Rams to 1-2 in the A-10 and 8-7 overall.
In two contests this past week, Kier, Mason's budding superstar, averaged 22.5 points and 11 rebounds, and on Monday, he was named the A-10's Player of the Week.
Justin Kier was named #A10MBB Co-Player of the Week after he averaged 22.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and shot 63.6 percent from the floor in two games for @MasonMBB— Atlantic 10 MBB (@A10MBB) January 14, 2019
STORY: https://t.co/vvgQUSiSt8 pic.twitter.com/IR6TLkgiXy
And Kier is earning early praise as a potential, albeit early, candidate for the league's Player of the Year award, as well.
Justin Kier continues to play at an A10POY level. It's early in a loooong season but these numbers are outrageous: 19.5 pts, 12.5rbs, 2.8asts, 1.3stls on 52% shooting (46% from deep).— Petey Buckets (@peteybuckets) January 14, 2019
As a team, the Patriots are finally showing signs of why they had such high expectations heading into this season in the first place, and the rest of the A-10 is taking notice.
Time to do another tiers of the #A10:— Stu Luddecke (@SLuddecke93) January 15, 2019
1) Davidson, VCU, Saint Louis, Dayton
2) George Mason
3) Rhode Island, Duquesne
4) UMass, Saint Bonaventure, La Salle
5) Richmond, Saint Joe’s, GW, Fordham
Next up, Mason continues its swing through New England, with a matchup against UMass in Amherst this Wednesday, January 16th.
Brown radio welcoming a pair of halftime guests with ties to the program -- George Mason director of basketball operations Ted Rawlings and graduate manager Bryson Johnson. Patriots staying in Providence between Sunday's win over #URI and Wednesday's game at UMass.— Bill Koch (@BillKoch25) January 15, 2019
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM ET. The game will be televised in New England on 11 Sports/NESN+, and will also be available on ESPN+
