On the Road VCU Tops Mason

Final Score: VCU 66, George Mason 61

Location: Fairfax, Va. (EagleBank Arena)

Current Records: VCU 9-2 (2-0 A-10), George Mason 5-4 (1-2)

 

The short story: Sophomore guard Bones Hyland provided his first career double-double and VCU extended its win streak to seven games Wednesday night in Fairfax, Va.

 

OPENING TIP

·      Hyland led all players with 23 points and hauled in a career-best 10 rebounds to pace the Rams. The sophomore guard connected on 10-of-23 attempts from the field and drove repeatedly through the heart of the George Mason defense in the second half. He also collected three steals and handed out a pair of assists

·      Junior forward Vince Williams added 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Black and Gold

·      Josh Oduro led four Patriots in double figures with 13 points

 

THE DIFFERENCE

·      VCU trailed 32-31 at the half, but Hyland and Williams each buried a 3-pointer to spark a 12-2 run over more than four minutes midway through the second period to provide the Rams with a 53-39 cushion with 10:44 left; The Patriots never seriously threatened the rest of the way

·      George Mason led by as many as nine points, at 18-9, but VCU chipped away and senior forward Corey Douglas gave the Rams a 23-22 lead at the 4:23 mark; The teams traded baskets down the stretch in the first, until Bahaide Haidara came up with a steal and layup prior to the horn to send Mason into the locker room with a one-point advantage

·      VCU held George Mason to just nine field goals (9-of-27) in the second half. The Patriots were 1-of-8 from 3-point range after halftime

·      The Rams shot 45 percent (26-of-58) from the field in the game

 

NOTABLE

·      VCU has won five straight games at EagleBank Arena, a streak that dates back to the 2015-16 season

·      The Rams have forced 15 or more turnovers in all 11 games this season

·      VCU’s seven-game win streak is its longest since it closed out the 2018-19 regular season with 12 in a row

             ·      Box score 

 

NEXT UP

VCU will host Rhode Island at the Siegel Center on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. That game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network

-- Game notes from Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.