THE BASICS
Rhode Island (15-7, 4-6 A-10) at George Mason (18-5, 9-1 A-10)
Tip-Off: Saturday, Feb. 8, 4:00 p.m. EST
Coverage: Watch: ESPN+ | Listen: Varsity Network | Live Stats | Game Notes

RHODE ISLAND VS. GEORGE MASON - SERIES NOTES

• Rhode Island and George Mason are meeting for the 17th time overall and the second time this season.
• The all-time series is split 8-8.
• Rhode Island is 3-3 as the road team in the series.
• When the teams met on Jan. 4, the Rams won 62-59 as Sebastian Thomas hit a baseline jumper and was fouled with less than one second to go. The old-fashioned three-point play provided the winning margin.
• Thomas had 23 points in the first meeting, while center Javonte Brown added nine points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots.
• Since that game, George Mason has won eight straight contests.
• Four of George Mason's last five games have been decided by five points or less, including a double-overtime win over George Washington (80-77) and an overtime win over Loyola Chicago (58-53).
• George Mason is the toughest team to score against in the Atlantic 10. Opponents shoot .365 from the field, the lowest in the league and second lowest field goal percentage allowed in the country.
• It helps the Patriots limit other teams to a league-low 61.6 points per game.
• Rhode Island leads the A-10 in scoring at 78.9 points per game.
• This game features the two teams that are best at defending the 3-point line. Rhode Island allows opponents to shoot a league-low .287 from the arc, while the Patriots are second at .290.

CLOSE FINISHES THE NORM FOR RAMS

• Since the start of Atlantic 10 play, seven of Rhode Island's 10 games have been decided by six points or less.
• Four of those games have been decided by three points or less, including the first meeting against George Mason. Rhode Island won that game, 62-59.
• Most recently, the Rams fell 80-79 at Fordham on Wednesday, dropping URI to 1-5 in road games this year.
• Rhode Island's lone win on the road was a 67-64 overtime victory at Richmond.

EVERYBODY'S WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND

• Rhode Island is a far more successful team on the weekend, and during day-time games.
• The Rams are 8-1 in games played on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, including a 5-1 mark in Saturday contests.
• URI also is 7-2 in games that tip off 4 p.m. or earlier.
• By contrast, the team is 7-6 in weekday games.
• Rhode Island is 8-5 in night games.