Washington, DC—-In a thrilling A-10 Championship quarterfinal showdown, the 2nd-seeded George Mason Patriots surged past the 7th-seeded GW Revolutionaries with a dominant second-half performance, securing an 80-65 victory.
GW came out aggressive, setting the tone with tenacious defense and a fast-paced offense. Their intensity paid off, as they entered halftime with a 42-38 lead, appearing poised for an upset.
But after the break, the Patriots flipped the script. A scorching 12-0 run in the opening four minutes of the second half put them ahead, and they never looked back. Over the next eight minutes, George Mason extended their dominance with a commanding 28-6 stretch, creating a 66-48 cushion that proved insurmountable.
Senior forward Jalen Haynes led the charge with 24 points and 5 rebounds, while senior guard Jared Billups added 18 points and 7 rebounds to fuel the Patriots’ impressive comeback.
With the win, George Mason advances to the A-10 semifinals, set for tomorrow in Washington, D.C. They now await the winner of the St. Joseph’s vs. Dayton quarterfinal, which will determine their next opponent.
