Jordan Giles/Fourth Estate
Men’s Basketball extends winning streak to seven games
BY BRIAN A. HAYUM, STAFF WRITER
The Mason Patriots extended their win streak to seven games after a 64-60 win against the Davidson College Wildcats, completing the home and away sweep over their North Carolina-based conference rival. The win moved the Patriots to 8-1 in the A-10 Conference. The best start in the program’s history in the A-10– and 17-5 overall.
In the win against Davidson, three of five starters scored in double figures with senior forward Jaylen Haynes and senior guard Darius Maddox leading the way with 12 points each. Off the bench, forward junior Gio Emejuru scored nine points and guard freshman Justin Begg scored seven points.
The formula for the Patriots’ success was found in the paint. With the Wildcats sporting their 2-3 zone, the A-10 leaders found plenty of success in the middle of the zone: out-scoring Davidson 34-22 in the paint.
Despite being in control most of the second half, the Patriots survived the Wildcats’ 23-14 scoring run to close out the game. The Patriots held Davidson, shooting 21-59 (35.6%) from the field and 9-30 (30%) from the three-point line.
While the team experiences occasional woes on offense, the Patriots’ calling card is their defense. That type of collective buy-in from the team places the Patriots as the second-ranked defensive team holding their opponent to the second-lowest field goal percentage in the country.
With a seven-game winning streak, the Patriots have held their opponents to an average field goal percentage of 38.4 percent. A sign that their defensive identity has stayed consistent, if not grown as the season has progressed.
“At the end of the day, we found a way,” said Mason Head Coach Tony Skinn after their 58-53 OT win versus Loyola-Chicago. “I try to get these guys to understand: ‘I give you guys the autonomy, but I’m really setting you up to guard your butt off,’” said Skinn.
With nine games left in the regular season, smiles are high and wide as the team enters the home stretch. “I’m just lucky I have the right group… winning is so hard,” said Skinn while reflecting on his team’s historic season start.
The Patriots look to continue their win streak on the road against George Washington on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m., streaming on ESPN+.