George Mason knocks off Ole Miss in Gildan Charleston Classic, 68-62

Led by four Patriots in double-figures and a double-double from Shevon Thompson, George Mason knocked off Ole Miss in the opening game of the Gildan Charleston Classic, 68-62, on Thursday. The victory marked Mason’s first this season, while also the first loss for the Rebels who entered the tournament undefeated.

GAME NOTES
-Mason led by as many as 13 points in the contest, leading Ole Miss 52-39 following a Shevon Thompson layup with 12:11 to play.
-Ole Miss slowly chipped away at its deficit and using a 17-4 run over nearly eight minutes, the Rebels tied the score 56-56 with 4:07 left in the contest.
-Marquise Moore snapped the run draining a three-pointer and Otis Livingston II hit a jumper, returning a five-point lead, 61-56, to the Patriots with 2:11 to go.
-Stefan Moody converted a layup and Ole Miss forced a turnover on a Mason inbounds, resulting in two free throws for Rasheed Brooks, setting the score at 61-60 with 1:31 on the clock.
-Moore and Livingston combined again for a 4-0 Mason run as the Patriots led 65-60 with 19.6 on the clock.
-Sam Finley scored for the Rebels, but Shevon Thompson hit a layup and drew a foul with four seconds to play, converting the three-point play and giving Mason the 68-62 victory.
-Mason led Ole Miss at the halftime break, 33-32, after Livingston converted a layup at the buzzer.
-Mason shot 52.0 percent in the first half led by 12 points from Thompson. The Patriots also led on the glass, 23-17, behind Thompson’s seven rebounds.

STAT BREAKDOWN
-Mason shot 49.1 percent (27-55) from the field and 80.0 percent (8-10) from the free throw line.
-Jaire Grayer hit 3-of-4 three-pointers, leading Mason beyond the arc as the Patriots shot 40.0 percent from long range.
-Four Patriots scored in double-figures led by Shevon Thompson who posted a double-double of 19 points and 16 rebounds.
-Marko Gujanicic led Mason with six assists. The Patriots tallied 15 in the win, marking the second time this season Mason has recorded 15+ assists.
-Mason dominated on the glass, out-rebounding the Rebels 44-29.
-Led by Thompson, the Patriots scored 32 points in the paint.
-Three Rebels reached double-figures led by Stefan Moody with a18 points.

NEXT ON THE COURT
-Mason plays game two of the Gildan Charleston Classic on Friday at 1 p.m. The Patriots will face the winner of Towson/Oklahoma State and it will be broadcast on either ESPN2 or ESPNU.