How it Happened
For the third game in a row, Rhode Island (10-9, 1-3) got off to a slow start and found itself trailing by double figures in the first half. However, despite falling behind by as many as 12 points (20-8) early on, the Rams cut their deficit to four (29-25) by the break.

From there, URI continued to claw its way out, eventually evening the score at 37-37 after a Xavier Munford lay-in with 13:10 remaining in regulation. 

A basket by E.C. Matthews put Rhody in front 39-37 midway through the second half and the Rams did not trail again. George Mason (7-11, 0-4) managed to knot things up three times in regulation - most importantly, with the pair of free throws that made it a 56-56 game with 11 seconds remaining.

In the final seconds of overtime, Rhody led 69-66 but Mason's Byron Allen drew a foul on his desperation half-court shot with two ticks left on the clock. He connected on all three to tie it up at 69 apiece, but Rhody would not let it end there. After a full court pass from T.J. Buchanan, Gilvydas Biruta was fouled with 0.7 seconds left on the clock. He connected on both attempts from the line, virtually ending the game then and there, as Mason's inbound attempt was picked off by Matthews to end the game at 71-69. 

Inside the Box Score

• The win is Rhode Island's first ever over George Mason as the Patriots had entered the afternoon with a 3-0 lead in the all-time series.
• The game featured only one lead change. Mason remained in front for the first 29:24, until a basket by Matthews gave URI the lead midway through the second half. 
• Xavier Munford finished with a season-high 28 points, marking the 42nd time in 48 games at URI that he reaches double figures. Among those 42 games, today's contest was Munford's 17th 20+ point performance.
• Munford was the only player in the game that did not leave the floor, logging 45 minutes for the second time in his career. 
• E.C. Matthews led all players with four steals - none bigger than the one that ended the game on Mason's in-bound pass with .7 seconds remaining in overtime. 
• He also scored 14 points for the Rams, including a 2-for-3 showing from long range. Matthews has now connected on at least one three-pointer in 11 of his 19 games played, ranking him second on the team with 25 makes from behind the arc this season.
• Munford and Matthews combined to sink six three-pointers while going 12-for-16 from the line (each player was 6-of-8).
• Gilvydas Biruta (17p/10r) registered his ninth career double-double and fifth of the season. He was the only player in the game to reach double figures in the rebounding column.
• Hassan Martin registered two blocks on the afternoon. He has now blocked multiple shots in nine of Rhody's last 10 games. 
• Today's game between the Rams and the Patriots marked the second time this season that the teams met. They also faced one another in a non-conference matchup on Nov. 30. Mason won that game, 61-54.

Quotable

• "They have a five-man, very physical rotation. It was difficult to match up with. Our guys showed tremendous spirit. We knew when we looked at the schedule this could be a desperation game." - Head Coach Dan Hurley
• "We have to use our instincts. Coach is drawing up great plays. We've got to go out and make basketball plays." - Xavier Munford

What's Next 
Rhode Island returns to Philadelphia for a Jan. 22 meeting with Saint Joseph's. The game will be televised locally on OSN.