Undefeated George Mason Faces Virginia Tech in Nonconference Showdown BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — An undefeated George Mason squad puts its perfect record on the line Saturday against a battle-tested Virginia Tech team at Cassell Coliseum. The Patriots (9-0), one of just 11 remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division I men’s basketball, venture into their toughest road environment of the young season. Meanwhile, the Hokies (7-2) look to build momentum after an 86-83 overtime road win at South Carolina on Tuesday. George Mason has won its games by an average margin of 19.2 points, with its closest contest being a six-point victory over Winthrop in the season opener. The Patriots are coming off a 99-81 win over Cornell on Tuesday, where Malik Presley scored 17 points. Presley, a guard, leads a balanced Patriots attack and is averaging 10.0 points over his last three games. Virginia Tech presents a significant step up in competition. The Hokies’ two losses came against Saint Mary’s and VCU during a challenging stretch, but they boast a resume-building overtime win over Providence and the recent victory at South Carolina. Forward Amani Hansberry has been a consistent force, averaging 18.3 points and 5.3 rebounds over his last four contests. He scored 22 points in the win over the Gamecocks. The matchup inside between Hansberry and George Mason’s frontcourt will be pivotal. The Patriots have held opponents to 62.2 points per game, but have not faced a power-conference opponent yet this season. This game is the final major nonconference test for both teams before league play begins next month. George Mason opens Atlantic 10 action on Dec. 31, while Virginia Tech begins its inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference slate on the same day against rival Virginia. Saturday’s contest tips off at 4 p.m. EST. Virginia Tech holds a 9-3 all-time series lead, but the teams have not met since 2019.