CASTRO’S CONQUEST

Rafael Castro has posted back-to-back career-highs in the last two games scoring 16 at Rhode Island before erupting for 27 points and 13 rebounds Wednesday vs. Duquesne. Castro is the first GW player with at least 27 points and 13 rebounds in a game since at least 2005.

The Providence transfer is now tied for the A-10 lead with six double-doubles and has averaged one over his last seven games, posting 12.9 ppg and 10.1 rpg while shooting 71.2% FG (37-52). Castro ranks 19th nationally in offensive rebounding (3.47 per game) and is 31st in total rebounding (8.9 per game), ranking first and third, respectively, in the A-10.

JONESING FOR A STEAL

Christian Jones registered an astounding seven steals in Wednesday’s game vs. Duquesne, including six in the first half. In the process, Jones became the first player at GW with seven steals in a game since Lasan Kromah set the school record with nine swipes on December 28, 2011.

Jones is the second player in the A-10 this year with seven steals, joining St. Bonaventure’s Melvin Council, who did so vs. Siena. The redshirt freshman vaulted into the A-10 leaderboard, now ranking eighth with 1.59 steals per game and 10th with 27 steals on the season. He ranks 13th nationally among first-years in steals.

HISTORY VS. GEORGE MASON

The battle of the Orange Line reunites on Saturday as GW visits George Mason in the 36th installment of the series. The teams have alternated wins and losses in the last six meetings, splitting two matchups each of the last three seasons. Each team won its own home court a year ago.

Since GM joined the A-10 in 2013-14, GW holds a 14-9 record, including a 6-5 mark at EagleBank Arena.

 

A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS

George Mason sits atop the A-10 at 4-1 entering Saturday with three-straight wins over Richmond, Massachusetts, and most recently at Dayton on Wednesday. Virginia Tech transfer Darius Maddox leads the team in scoring with 14.1 ppg and is joined in double figures by Jalen Haynes (12.2 ppg) and Brayden O’Connor (10.3 ppg). 

The team prides itself on the defensive end of the floor, where it ranks fourth nationally in FG% defense (36.2%) and 12th nationally in scoring defense (61.9 ppg). Per KenPom, the Patriots have the third-best 2-point defense in the country, limiting foes to 40.7% and are ninth in the NCAA in effective FG percentage defense (43.2%).

Offensively, GM is 12th in the league in scoring (73.3 ppg) and is last with 13.7 turnovers per game, ranking 343rd out of 364 teams by turning the ball over on 21.3% of its possessions.