FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - A strong second half propelled George Washington past George Mason 75-69 on Saturday as the schools -in what is now known as the Revolutionary Rivalry - met for the first time as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Kevin Larsen and Joe McDonald each scored 14 points to lead five Colonials in double-figures as George Washington (16-3, 4-1) won its fourth-straight game.
George Washington started the second half strong by making seven of its first 10 shots and used an early 8-0 run fueled by six consecutive points by Isaiah Armwood to take a 48-38 lead. Armwood, saddled with foul trouble in the first half, scored 10 of his 12 points after halftime.
The Colonials were playing their first game of the season without second-leading scorer Kethan Savage, who fractured his left foot against St. Bonaventure Jan. 18, and is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks.
Replacing Savage in the lineup, Patricio Garino got his first start of the season for George Washington and scored 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
Reserve Johnny Williams tied a career high with 18 points to lead all scorers for George Mason (7-13, 0-6).
The Patriots have now lost six straight games, their longest losing streak since losing seven consecutive contests stretched out over the end of the 1997-98 season and the beginning of the 1998-99 campaign.
Bryon Allen’s jumper with 10:21 remaining brought the Patriots back to within five at 51-46 but George Mason would get no closer as George Washington continued its hot shooting by finishing 29-of-53 from the field (54.7 percent).
George Washington went on a 15-4 run after a McDonald layup gave the Colonials a 66-50 lead with 4:20 remaining. .
In a first half that featured eleven lead changes, George Mason led 30-29 at the half behind 52 percent shooting (13-of-25) while holding the Colonials to 42.3 percent shooting (11-of-26).
Williams scored five consecutive points in giving George Mason its largest lead of the first half at 30-25 with 3:30 remaining. Williams scored 11 of his 18 points in the opening half.
Jalen Jenkins (13 points) and Patrick Holloway (11 points) all scored in double figures as the Patriots are still seeking their first ever Atlantic-10 victory.
In meeting for the first time since 2010, George Washington now leads the all-time series 11-2 over George Mason.
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