03/07/26 05:20:00
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03/07 17:18 CST Jahari Long scores 21 points as George Mason pounds No. 25
Saint Louis, 86-57
Jahari Long scores 21 points as George Mason pounds No. 25 Saint Louis, 86-57
By PATRICK STEVENS
Associated Press
FAIRFAX, Va, (AP) --- Jahari Long had 21 points and nine assists, and George
Mason routed No. 25 Saint Louis 86-57 in the regular-season finale for both
teams Saturday.
Kory Mincy added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Patriots
(23-8, 11-7 Atlantic 10), who defeated a ranked opponent for the first time
since upending then-No. 16 Dayton on Feb. 21, 2024.
Dion Brown had 13 points for the Billikens (27-4, 15-3), who had already
clinched the No. 1 seed in next week's Atlantic 10 tournament. They shared the
regular-season title with VCU, a team they defeated twice this season.
Senior center Robbie Avila, who entered averaging a team-high 13.0 points for
Saint Louis, played only five scoreless minutes in the first half because of
foul trouble. He finished with two points and one rebound in 12 minutes.
With Avila sitting for the final 12:05 of the first half, George Mason opened a
43-34 halftime lead. The Billikens could never get closer against the Patriots,
who shot 57.6 percent for the game and 73.1 percent in the second half.
After Avila finally scored to make it 49-39, George Mason rattled off the next
17 points as Saint Louis went scoreless for 6:54. George Mason eventually built
a 34-point lead. Besides a 25-point deficit in a Feb. 24 loss at Dayton, the
Billikens had not trailed anyone by more than 15 all season.
Nick Ellington (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Emmanuel Kanga (13 points, 11
rebounds) both had double-doubles for George Mason, which outrebounded Saint
Louis 41-26.
Up next
Saint Louis will play Fordham or George Washington in the Atlantic 10
quarterfinals in Pittsburgh on Friday.
George Mason will face La Salle or St. Bonaventure in Thursday's Atlantic 10
second round.
___
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