FAIRFAX, Va. — In a competitive showdown on Wednesday, George Mason came out victorious against La Salle with a final score of 69-62. The Patriots were led by a stellar performance from Brayden O’Connor, who topped the scoreboard with 26 points and also contributed five assists.
Jalen Haynes made a notable impact as well, scoring 22 points on an impressive 8 of 11 shooting. He was flawless from the free-throw line, sinking all six attempts, and contributed significantly on defense with 10 rebounds. Darius Maddox showcased his skills, adding 17 points while shooting 7 of 14 from the field, including three 3-pointers out of seven attempts.
On the opposing side, Jahlil White led La Salle with a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Corey McKeithan supported the team with 12 points alongside four assists and four steals. Deuce Jones chipped in another 12 points for the Explorers, who are struggling with their eighth consecutive loss.
The first half featured strong play by Haynes, who scored 14 of his points, though George Mason found themselves behind, trailing 33-26 at the break. However, the second half saw O’Connor driving the Patriots’ resurgence with an additional 21 points, securing the seven-point victory.
Both teams are wrapping up their regular seasons on Saturday. George Mason will be on the road against Richmond, while La Salle is set to face Saint Joseph’s at home. In the Atlantic 10 Conference standings, George Mason holds second place, one game behind VCU, which will close its regular season with a home game against Dayton on Friday.
