Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate

Despite a second-half surge, the Patriots fell to the Bradley Braves in the second round of the NIT

BY BRIAN A. HAYUM, STAFF WRITER

On Saturday, March 22, the Men’s basketball team lost in the second round of the NIT to the Bradley Braves, 75-67. The game marked the team’s second home loss of the season.

In their fifth game in eight days, the Patriots took an early 14-9 lead at the 9:35 mark of the first half—ultimately their largest lead of the game. The Braves, who held a 17-3 record when making at least 40% of their three-point attempts, found their rhythm from beyond the arc in the first half and entered halftime with a nine-point advantage.

Bradley continued their hot shooting in the second half, opening with an 18-9 run and hitting four of their first five second-half three-pointers to extend their lead to 18—their largest lead of the night. The Patriots would’ve made an 11-0 run to cut the deficit down to single digits, but pivotal moments, including a circus shot by Braves guard Christian Davis, prevented the Patriots from seizing the momentum and taking the lead. Ultimately, an eight-point Braves lead with 1:30 remaining proved too much to overcome.

In their final game as Patriots, senior guards Darius Maddox and K.D. Johnson led the team with 15 and 16 points, respectively. Defensively, senior guard Jared Billups provided a second-half spark with a game-high four steals.

 “I just wanted it bad for our seniors,” Head Coach Tony Skinn said. “I saw life but whether it was Jalen [Haynes] two missed lay-ups or the shot that this kid [Davis] made from 37 feet, you kind of know in the back of your head that you’re not getting the win.”

 Despite the loss, the Patriots’ success this season has set a high standard for future expectations. “We put up a banner this year,” Billups said. “That’s the goal every year.” Maddox echoed that sentiment: “If you want to be in an environment where you’re getting better, you’re winning, and a coaching staff that can really relate to you, I feel like Mason is a great place to do that.” 

“George Mason is a basketball school,” Skinn added. “I branded this ‘Team 59’ for a reason and so they’ve laid that foundation.” 

With the foundation set, next year’s group of players will have the opportunity to build on this historic season and turn success into the new standard for Patriots basketball.