George Mason Mens Basketball Buries UMBC With 16-0 Second-Half Run in 82-54 Opener

FAIRFAX, Va. — For 20 minutes Monday afternoon, George Mason looked like a team still shaking off the offseason. For the next 20, it looked like an Atlantic 10 contender. The Patriots (1-0) outscored UMBC 49-27 after halftime at EagleBank Arena to roll to an 82-54 season-opening win, giving head coach Tony Skinn his fourth straight victory in an opener. The first half was a grind. Mason shot 33.3% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range and took just a 33-27 lead into the break. When the Retrievers (0-1) cut it to 35-32 early in the second half, the Patriots answered with a 16-0 run that ended any doubt, stretching the lead to 51-32 with just over 14 minutes left. Mason shot 51.7% and 38.5% from deep after halftime, finishing at 41.2% overall and 30% from 3. Sophomore guard Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor drove the surge, scoring a career-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including two 3-pointers, with six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

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