The honeymoon is over for Paul Hewitt and his George Mason Patriots, as they have not started off their inaugural Atlantic 10 season the way they wanted. Mason is 0-2 after falling at VCU and at home against Saint Joseph's on Saturday. It won't get any easier tonight as they welcome #16 UMass to the Patriot Center.
Unlike the 7-9 Patriots, the UMass Minutemen have been thriving in Atlantic 10 play and are now 2-0 to start the season. It hasn't been easy for Derek Kellogg's squad, as both St. Joe's and Saint Bonaventure gave the Minutemen a pretty good scare. UMass hasn't been tested on the road yet and tonight's game will mark the first of three on the road for Minutemen.
Tonight's match up also features two of the top guards in the conference in Chaz Williams and Bryon Allen. Williams is averaging 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and is now second in the country in assists with his average at 7.5 per game now. Everyone thought the top dog for Mason would Sherrod Wright this year but Bryon Allen is having quite the year with 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
We'll have tip-off from Fairfax at 7PM live on Mid-Major Madness courtesy of the Atlantic 10 Network powered by Campus Insiders.