Saint Louis Billikens at George Mason Patriots

Jahari Long scores 21 points as George Mason pounds No. 25 Saint Louis, 86-57

Kory Mincy added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Patriots (23-8, 11-7 Atlantic 10), who defeated a ranked opponent for the first time since upending then-No. 16 Dayton on Feb. 21, 2024.

Dion Brown had 13 points for the Billikens (27-4, 15-3), who had already clinched the No. 1 seed in next week’s Atlantic 10 tournament. They shared the regular-season title with VCU, a team they defeated twice this season.

Senior center Robbie Avila, who entered averaging a team-high 13.0 points for Saint Louis, played only five scoreless minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. He finished with two points and one rebound in 12 minutes.

With Avila sitting for the final 12:05 of the first half, George Mason opened a 43-34 halftime lead. The Billikens could never get closer against the Patriots, who shot 57.6 percent for the game and 73.1 percent in the second half.

After Avila finally scored to make it 49-39, George Mason rattled off the next 17 points as Saint Louis went scoreless for 6:54. George Mason eventually built a 34-point lead. Besides a 25-point deficit in a Feb. 24 loss at Dayton, the Billikens had not trailed anyone by more than 15 all season.

Nick Ellington (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Emmanuel Kanga (13 points, 11 rebounds) both had double-doubles for George Mason, which outrebounded Saint Louis 41-26.

Up next Saint Louis will play Fordham or George Washington in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals in Pittsburgh on Friday.

George Mason will face La Salle or St. Bonaventure in Thursday’s Atlantic 10 second round.

How can I watch Saint Louis vs. George Mason?

• TV Channel: Saint Louis at George Mason 2021 College Basketball, week 18, is broadcasted on USA Net.
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