Washington, D.C. — Capital One Arena was buzzing with energy as VCU and George Mason faced off in a highly anticipated Atlantic 10 Championship showdown. With the crowd split evenly, the atmosphere was electric from the opening tip-off.
The first ten minutes of action were tightly contested, with neither team gaining more than a three-point advantage. However, as the first half neared its conclusion, top-seeded VCU began to impose its will. A heated moment during a held ball situation ignited the Rams, who closed the half on a strong run to take a 36-28 lead into the break.
George Mason came out of halftime with renewed intensity, quickly chipping away at the deficit. Led by the dominant inside play of power forward Jared Haynes, the Patriots cut the lead to just two points multiple times. However, VCU’s star guard Max Shulga, the conference’s Player of the Year, answered the challenge with clutch baskets to keep his team in front.
Mason’s Darius Maddox provided key three-pointers to keep the Patriots within striking distance, but Shulga proved to be the difference-maker. He finished with 18 points, four rebounds, and three assists, showcasing why he was named the A-10’s best player.
In a dramatic final sequence, George Mason had a chance to tie the game in the closing moments, but a last-second three-point attempt missed its mark. As the final buzzer sounded, VCU secured a hard-fought 68-63 victory, cementing their status as the conference champions and securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
With 11,000 passionate fans in attendance, the Rams celebrated their championship in the nation’s capital, ready to take their momentum into March Madness.
