PHILADELPHIA - Senior Jhamir Brickus scored a team-high 19 points and became the 58th player in La Salle men's basketball history to score 1,000 points in a career, as the Explorers dropped a 77-62 decision to George Mason in the Atlantic 10 opener for both schools on Wednesday.

Brickus' two free throws with 3:59 remaining gave him exactly 1,000 points for his career, as he joined the exclusive club of former La Salle players to reach the 1,000-point mark. As a team, La Salle held a six-point lead at halftime but hit a cold spell offensively in the second half, connecting on just 21.4 percent of its field-goal attempts as George Mason earned the road win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• La Salle could not miss from three-point range in the first half, connecting on eight triples during the opening 20 minutes.
• Redshirt freshman Ryan Zan, who made his first career start, made two from downtown and had all 10 of his points in the period.
• A triple by Andres Marrero pushed La Salle up 41-31 with 3:16 remaining in the period, and the Explorers held a 46-40 advantage heading into the locker room at intermission.
• La Salle shot 51.5 percent from the field through the first 20 minutes, and 53.3 percent from three.
• The second half started out auspiciously for the Explorers, with a Brickus three putting the home team up by nine at 46-37.
• George Mason would go on a 13-0 run to turn the tides and take a 50-46 lead at the 12:42 mark. 
• After the two teams traded baskets for the next four minutes, the Patriots went on another 12-0 spurt that essentially put the game out of reach.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• After connecting on eight three-pointers in the first half, La Salle went just 1-for-14 from three-point range in the second.
• Brickus was joined in double figures by Zan (10) and junior Khalil Brantley, who closed with 17 points.
• GMU outrebounded La Salle, 41-23, and had a decisive 34-14 advantage in points in the paint.
• Keyshawn Hall had 27 points and 13 boards to lead the Patriots, who also received 15 points from Darius Maddox.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers head to Fordham for a road matchup against the Rams on Saturday, Jan. 6. 
• The contest will air live on USA Network, beginning at 12:00 p.m.