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FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason finished the game on a 13-4 run over the final five minutes to hand La Salle a 70-62 loss at the Patriot Center in the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams.
 
Senior Jerrell Wright (6-for-6 from the field) and redshirt sophomore Cleon Roberts tied for game-highs with 16 points each. Senior Steve Zack added 12 points.
 
A close game throughout, neither team led by more than five in the second half. Two Roberts foul shots gave the Explorers a 58-57 lead with 5:17 remaining but after that, it was all Mason.
 
"The story is how well George Mason played that last 13, 14 minutes," head coach Dr. John Giannini said. "They completely out-toughed us, they out-rebounded us, they out-defended us. They were terrific."
 
The Patriots (6-8, 1-0 A-10) got seemingly every rebound (7 of 9) and made their foul shots (9-for-12) during that stretch while clamping down defensively. La Salle only got three shots off in the final five minutes, a big Roberts three-pointer that cut the Mason lead to 64-62 with 1:33 remaining.
 
But the next four possessions included three missed shots and a turnover and the Explorers had their three-game winning streak snapped.
 
Four players paced the Patriots with 13 points, including Shevon Thompson, who added seven rebounds. Jalen Jenkins, Isaiah Jackson and Patrick Holloway also scored 13 for GMU.
 
The Blue and Gold struggled from behind the arc (28.6%) and the charity stripe (52.6%), while Mason shot 57.5% from the floor and made 4-for-6 from three-point range.
 
The Explorers return home on Wednesday to host Massachusetts. Tip-off is set for 7 PM.