FAIRFAX, Va. (Interstat) — A surging George Mason squad, off to one of its best starts in program history, will look to continue its dominance when it hosts a struggling Loyola Maryland team at EagleBank Arena on Sunday. The Patriots (10-1) have won 10 of their first 11 games, their lone blemish a 73-62 road loss to Virginia Tech on Dec. 6. They rebounded with a 73-61 victory over Old Dominion last Saturday, powered by a career-high 26 points from junior guard Riley Allenspach. Allenspach, a dynamic scorer, is averaging 16.2 points over his last five games and will be a primary focus for the Patriot offense. Conversely, the Greyhounds (4-8) have lost three straight and six of their last seven, including an 81-73 home defeat to Mount Saint Mary’s on Dec. 13. Loyola’s offense has shown flashes, but defensive consistency has been an issue, allowing an average of 86.3 points during the current skid. Loyola will rely heavily on the playmaking of guard Jacob Theodosiou. The senior is coming off a 15-point, 7-assist performance against Mount Saint Mary’s and has recorded two double-doubles this season. His ability to control the tempo and create shots for himself and others, like leading scorer Jordan Stiemke (22 points last game), will be critical for the Greyhounds to keep pace. George Mason’s success has been built on balanced scoring and stout defense, holding opponents to an average of 68.5 points. Alongside Allenspach, contributors like Masai Troutman and Dola Adebayo provide reliable secondary options. The Patriots’ depth and home-court advantage, where they are 6-0 this season, present a formidable challenge for the visiting Greyhounds. This non-conference matchup pits two teams on opposite trajectories. George Mason aims to solidify its resume before Atlantic 10 play, while Loyola Maryland seeks a signature road win to reverse its momentum before Patriot League action begins. Tipoff is set for Sunday afternoon.