St. Joseph’s Offense Goes Cold in Final Minutes, Falling 60-52 to George Mason
FAIRFAX, Va. — St. Joseph’s bid to upset George Mason and shake up the Atlantic 10 standings fell short on Saturday, as the Hawks crumbled down the stretch to lose 60-52 at EagleBank Arena. despite controlling significant portions of the second half and pushing the No. 25 Patriots to the brink of a home defeat, a catastrophic offensive drought in the final eight minutes doomed the visitors.
The loss drops St. Joseph’s to 15-9 overall and 7-4 in conference play, dealing a significant blow to their hopes of securing a double-bye in the upcoming Atlantic 10 Tournament. Meanwhile, George Mason improves to a formidable 21-3 (9-2 A-10), maintaining their grip on second place in the league and extending their lead over the Hawks to two games.
A Game of Runs and missed Opportunities
For the first 30 minutes, St. Joseph’s appeared poised to play spoiler on George Mason’s Homecoming. The teams entered halftime deadlocked at 29-29, but the Hawks surged out of the break. St. Joe’s built a 36-31 lead early in the second stanza and appeared to have the Patriots on the ropes, extending their advantage to 43-37 with 13:18 remaining.
However, the game turned on a pivotal defensive switch by George Mason. The Patriots, led by Jahari Long’s game-high 20 points, engineered a ferocious 13-3 run to reclaim the lead at 50-46 with just over eight minutes to play.
From that point forward, the Hawks’ offense effectively vanished. St. Joseph’s managed only one made field goal in the final eight minutes of action, shooting just 29 percent in the second half. The Patriots capitalized on the drought, using their physicality to control the paint and secure the 60-52 victory.
Counterpoint: Self-Inflicted Wounds or Elite Defense?
While George Mason head coach Tony Skinn credited his team’s defensive intensity—and a raucous crowd of 7,335—for the turnaround, observers might argue that St. Joseph’s collapse was largely self-inflicted. The Hawks missed several open looks and committed unforced turnovers during the critical stretch that allowed Mason to stabilize.
Critics of the Hawks’ late-game execution point to a recurring theme of offensive stagnation in high-pressure road environments. Despite the “brink” narrative suggested by the competitive 32 minutes, the final eight-point margin and the five-minute field goal drought raise questions about St. Joe’s ability to close out games against top-tier conference opponents.
Background and Playoff Implications
This matchup carried heavy weight in the Atlantic 10 hierarchy. St. Joseph’s entered the contest looking to narrow the gap for a top-four seed, which guarantees a double-bye into the frantic conference tournament quarterfinals. With the loss, the Hawks now face a steeper path, needing help from other league results to catch the Patriots.
George Mason, conversely, continues to enjoy one of its best regular seasons in recent history. The victory solidified their 13-1 home record and highlighted their depth, with Riley Allenspach contributing 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
The Hawks will look to regroup as they return to Philadelphia, knowing that while they proved they can compete with the league’s best for 30 minutes, the final 10 minutes remain the difference between a signature win and a “what-if” defeat.
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