FAIRFAX, Va. – An
Emmett Adair 3-pointer on the first possession of the second half gave visiting Loyola University Maryland a 43-35 lead, but George Mason University scored the next nine points to move back in front in what would become an 86-79 Patriots victory on Sunday afternoon at EagleBank Arena.
Loyola would lead for more than 19 minutes of the game that featured 12 lead changes and six tie scores.
Tyson Commander knocked down a three off a George Mason (11-1 overall) turnover, pushing Loyola (4-9) up 49-48 with 12:57 left in regulation.
Braeden Speed then hit a three for the Greyhounds at 12:09, and Loyola was up four.
George Mason would tie the score on a Jahari Long jumper at 11:11, but
Jordan Stiemke converted three free throws on Loyola's next possession, and the Greyhounds were up, 55-52, at 10:53.
The Patriots would score the next four to go up one, and it would build to 71-64 on a Kory Mincy pull-up at 4:23.
Loyola got the deficit down to three with a
Jacob Theodosiou three with 48 seconds left in the second half, and after two Mincy free throws made it 79-74 Patriots, another Theodosiou three made it a two-point game, 79-77.
Mincy, however, converted five free throws over the next 37 seconds to secure the win.
Speed scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Greyhounds, and he also had a team-high six assists. Theodosiou added 22 points and five rebounds, while dishing out four assists. Stiemke scored 11, and Adair added 10 for the Greyhounds.
Mincy scored 26, and Long had 18 for the Patriots.
Loyola will start Patriot League play on Wednesday, December 31, with a 1 p.m. game at American University.
