FAIRFAX, Va. (Interstat) — Riley Allenspach scored 26 points to lead George Mason to a 73-61 win over Old Dominion in nonconference men’s basketball Saturday at EagleBank Arena. The Patriots (10-1) led 38-29 at halftime and maintained control throughout the second half before a crowd of 4,433. Allenspach, a 6-foot-11 forward from Charlotte, North Carolina, added six rebounds in 27 minutes. Jordan Battle scored 14 points for the Monarchs (3-8). Caelum Swanton-Rodger added 13 points and nine rebounds. Old Dominion has lost seven of its last eight games. George Mason, which shot 50% from the floor, was a 16-point pregame favorite. The Patriots’ lone loss this season came last week at Virginia Tech.

FAIRFAX, Va. (Interstat) — Riley Allenspach scored 26 points and George Mason used a dominant opening run to build a lead it would never relinquish, defeating Old Dominion 73-61 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at EagleBank Arena. The Patriots, improving to 10-1, raced out to a 17-2 advantage in the game’s first four minutes, a surge from which the Monarchs never fully recovered. Allenspach, a 6-foot-11 junior from Charlotte, North Carolina, was the catalyst, scoring 11 of those points during the burst. He finished the half with 19 points as George Mason took a 38-29 lead into the break. The most important part of the game was unquestionably that initial blitz. Old Dominion won the opening tip but came up empty on its first possession. George Mason’s Dola Adebayo blocked a Ketron Shaw layup, and on the ensuing trip, Allenspach grabbed an offensive rebound and converted a tip-in for the game’s first points. After an Old Dominion dunk, Allenspach then hit a 3-pointer, a layup, and another 3-pointer in quick succession, forcing a Monarchs timeout just over three minutes into the game with the Patriots already ahead 12-2. The lead ballooned to 15 before the first media stoppage, setting a physical, defensive tone that defined the contest. Old Dominion, which fell to 3-8, chipped away at the deficit but could never get the margin below six points in the second half. Every time the Monarchs threatened, George Mason answered, often at the free-throw line or with a key defensive play. The Patriots’ defense was relentless, forcing 16 turnovers and converting them into 15 points. They also held a significant edge in fast-break points, 13-4, and points in the paint, 38-26. Allenspach’s 26-point effort came on 10-of-15 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. He added six rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes. His performance was a bounce-back after being held to 11 points in George Mason’s only loss of the season a week prior at Virginia Tech. Masai Troutman provided strong support for the Patriots with 14 points and five rebounds, while Fatt Hill added 11 points. Jahari Long orchestrated the offense with six points, six rebounds and four assists. Old Dominion was led by Jordan Battle’s 14 points and seven rebounds. Ketron Shaw also scored 14, and Caelum Swanton-Rodger posted a near double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds to go with two blocks. The Monarchs struggled offensively, posting an efficiency rating of just 86.3 points per 100 possessions and managing only five assists against 16 turnovers. George Mason, despite shooting a nearly identical percentage from the field as Old Dominion, attempted 17 more free throws, making 23, to the Monarchs’ 11. That disparity, along with the Patriots’ advantages in steals, assists, and offensive rebounds, proved decisive. A crowd of 4,433 watched the Patriots continue their strong start to the season, while Old Dominion dropped its fifth straight game. George Mason will look to continue its momentum when it hosts Loyola Maryland on Dec. 21. Old Dominion returns home to face James Madison on Dec. 17.

FAIRFAX, Va. (Interstat) — A surging George Mason looks to rebound from its first loss when it hosts a struggling Old Dominion team in nonconference men’s basketball Saturday at EagleBank Arena. The Patriots (9-1) saw their nine-game winning streak snapped last Saturday in a 73-62 road loss to Virginia Tech. Despite the setback, George Mason has been one of the early season’s surprises, boasting a potent offense that has scored 80 or more points in six games. Guard Kory Mincy has been the catalyst, averaging 17.1 points and 4.8 assists. He is coming off a 16-point, 8-assist performance against the Hokies and has scored 22 or more points in three of his last five outings. Old Dominion (3-7) arrives seeking to halt a five-game skid. The Monarchs fell 86-77 at Richmond last Saturday, a game in which they allowed 50 second-half points. Defense has been a persistent issue; ODU has allowed 86 or more points in four of its seven losses this season. The Monarchs will lean on guard Ketron Shaw, who is coming off one of his best performances with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists against Richmond. Shaw has averaged 13 points over his last three games. George Mason holds a distinct advantage in recent performance and on its home floor, where it is 5-0 this season. Old Dominion, conversely, is 0-6 in true road games, with those losses coming by an average margin of 17.8 points. This matchup is the first between the former Colonial Athletic Association rivals since 2013. Following this game, George Mason hosts Loyola Maryland on Dec. 21, while Old Dominion returns home to face James Madison on Dec. 17.