George Washington University Athletics
Monday, January 19
Fairfax, VA
5 p.m.
George Washington University
at
George Mason
Photo by: Greg Fiume
Men's Basketball Heads to Fairfax Monday for Battle of the Georges
1/18/2026 9:32:00 AM | Men's Basketball
WASHINGTON - This year's men's basketball Battle of the Georges commences on Monday as the Revolutionaries and Patriots renew their traditional matchup on MLK Day with a 5 p.m. tip at EagleBank Arena. The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.
RAFAEL'S RAREFIED AIR
Rafael Castro is the only player in the country putting up at least 16.0 ppg and 8.5 rpg while playing less than 25.0 mpg. Additionally, he is one of just four players nationally this year with 35+ steals, 30+ assists and 20+ blocks.
Currently, Castro is the only player in the CBB Reference database (since 1947-48) to average 16.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.7 apg and 1.3 bpg while playing less than 25.0 mpg. Taking out the minutes requirement, the last player to meet those averages in a full season was Duke's Zion Williamson in 2018-19.
Only two players nationally in the last nine seasons (since 2017-18) have been able to average 16.0 ppg and 8.5 rpg in less than 25.0 mpg for a whole season:
• Auburn's Johni Broome (First Team All-SEC) in 2023-24 (16.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 24.8 mpg)
• Duke's Vernon Carey Jr. (National Freshman of the Year) in 2019-20 (17.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 24.9 mpg)
STRIKING A BALANCE
GW is tied for seventh nationally with five players averaging double figures so far this season, trailing six teams with six. All nine regular rotation players are putting up at least 6.0 ppg while all playing less than 27.0 mpg, tied for the most in the country with Saint Louis.
GW has had at least one player average at least 27.0 mpg every year since 1989-90. This year is also the second-straight season that no player has averaged 30.0 mpg, something that had been done every year since 2008-09.
A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
George Mason is off to the best start in program history at 17-1 overall and 5-0 in league play with the lone loss coming at Virginia Tech back in December. GMU is 22-3 in its last 25 A-10 games and 28-1 in its last 29 home games with the lone setback coming to Bradley in the second round of last season's NIT.
The Patriots are led by Presbyterian transfer Kory Mincy, who is fourth in the league at 16.6 ppg, but four other players also average double digits: Riley Allenspach (13.4), Jahari Long (11.6), Fatt Hill (10.8) and Masai Troutman (10.3).
Mason makes its money at the free throw line, ranking 10th nationally with 27.4 free throw attempts per game and sixth in the NCAA with 20.3 makes per contest. GMU is also 32nd nationally, and tops in the A-10, averaging just 10 turnovers per contest.
RAFAEL'S RAREFIED AIR
Rafael Castro is the only player in the country putting up at least 16.0 ppg and 8.5 rpg while playing less than 25.0 mpg. Additionally, he is one of just four players nationally this year with 35+ steals, 30+ assists and 20+ blocks.
Currently, Castro is the only player in the CBB Reference database (since 1947-48) to average 16.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.7 apg and 1.3 bpg while playing less than 25.0 mpg. Taking out the minutes requirement, the last player to meet those averages in a full season was Duke's Zion Williamson in 2018-19.
Only two players nationally in the last nine seasons (since 2017-18) have been able to average 16.0 ppg and 8.5 rpg in less than 25.0 mpg for a whole season:
• Auburn's Johni Broome (First Team All-SEC) in 2023-24 (16.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 24.8 mpg)
• Duke's Vernon Carey Jr. (National Freshman of the Year) in 2019-20 (17.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 24.9 mpg)
STRIKING A BALANCE
GW is tied for seventh nationally with five players averaging double figures so far this season, trailing six teams with six. All nine regular rotation players are putting up at least 6.0 ppg while all playing less than 27.0 mpg, tied for the most in the country with Saint Louis.
GW has had at least one player average at least 27.0 mpg every year since 1989-90. This year is also the second-straight season that no player has averaged 30.0 mpg, something that had been done every year since 2008-09.
A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
George Mason is off to the best start in program history at 17-1 overall and 5-0 in league play with the lone loss coming at Virginia Tech back in December. GMU is 22-3 in its last 25 A-10 games and 28-1 in its last 29 home games with the lone setback coming to Bradley in the second round of last season's NIT.
The Patriots are led by Presbyterian transfer Kory Mincy, who is fourth in the league at 16.6 ppg, but four other players also average double digits: Riley Allenspach (13.4), Jahari Long (11.6), Fatt Hill (10.8) and Masai Troutman (10.3).
Mason makes its money at the free throw line, ranking 10th nationally with 27.4 free throw attempts per game and sixth in the NCAA with 20.3 makes per contest. GMU is also 32nd nationally, and tops in the A-10, averaging just 10 turnovers per contest.
Players Mentioned
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