George Mason Patriots vs. George Washington Colonials Prediction, Pick and Preview, January 17 (1/17): NCAAB

Credit: photo by Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

Odds

Preview

The George Washington Colonials will host their DMV rivals, the George Mason Patriots for Atlantic 10 battle.

The Patriots wrapped up their non-conference slate and headed into Christmas Break on a three-game win streak. The Patriots picked up victories over Georgia and neighbors, Maryland and Navy, so they enter A-10 play with a bit of momentum.

The Colonials will be returning to the court for the first time in nearly a month. The Colonials struggled out of the gate but they did win their last two games over Coppin State and Radford.

George Mason (7-6)

Head coach Kim English struck big in the transfer portal, and they've meshed well early. The Patriots score a solid 72.8 ppg and shoot 45.9% from the field.

Josh Oduro has taken a third-year jump in Fairfax this season. The 6'9 forward scored 32 in the win over Navy and he leads the team in scoring with 17.4 ppg, while grabbing 7.2 rpg.

Davonte Gaines, D'Shawn Schwartz, and Devon Cooper have all come in and made an immediate impact for the Patriots. Schwartz is second on the team in scoring (14.6), while Gaines scores 10.9 ppg and leads the Patriots in rebounding (7.8).

Cooper is third on the team in scoring (13.2), while veteran guard Xavier Johnson rounds out the lineup and averages a well-rounded 5.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, and 4.5 apg.

George Washington (4-10)

James Bishop returned to DC after a successful first season in DC. The junior has scored 20 or more in three of his last four games, and he leads the Colonials with 15.8 ppg.

GWU struck well through the transfer portal, bringing in guards Joe Bamisile and Brendan Adams. Bamisile, a Virginia Tech transfer, scored a career-high 25 points in the win over Coppin State, and he's second on the team with 13.1 ppg. Adams has cover over from UConn and brought stability and experience into the backcourt, averaging 11.1 ppg and 4.3 rpg.

Hometown kid Ricky Lindo Jr. mans the frontcourt, and he scores 9.5 ppg, while leading GWU in rebounding (8.2)

Prediction

The Patriots have a manageable margin here in what won't be much of a road game, and Kim English's team should take care of business. If the Patriots are going to be dark horse contenders inside of the emerging Atlantic 10 Conference, these are games they have to win. Bragging rights are up for grabs, and we like GMU here.

Take GMU's spread for this one Monday.

PICK: GMU -6.5

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