VCU used a dominant second half to power past George Mason 70-54 on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 7,637 at the Siegel Center, pulling the Rams into a tie for first place in the Atlantic 10.  

Graduate guard Max Shulga led VCU (22-5, 12-2 A-10) with 22 points, hitting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Jack Clark added 12 points and nine rebounds, while Phillip Russell chipped in 11 points. The Rams took control with a 15-0 run early in the second half and never looked back.  

George Mason (21-6, 12-2) led 24-23 at halftime and briefly extended the lead to 29-27 early in the second half. However, turnovers proved costly for the Patriots, as they committed nine giveaways after the break. VCU capitalized with a 20-9 edge in points off turnovers.  

Senior Darius Maddox and K.D. Johnson led the Patriots with 12 points apiece, while Jalen Haynes contributed 10 points and eight rebounds. Woody Newton added eight points for George Mason, which struggled from the perimeter, hitting just 26%t from three-point range.  

VCU shot just 24% in the first half but connected on 5 % of its shots in the second, including seven three-pointers. The Rams also forced 14 turnovers while committing only nine. Their defensive intensity in the second half disrupted George Mason’s rhythm, limiting the Patriots’ scoring opportunities.  

The Rams have now won six straight and are 48-22 all-time against George Mason. Their 70 points are the most George Mason has surrendered in regulation since Jan. 11 against UMass. The win strengthens VCU’s case for a top seed in the upcoming Atlantic 10 tournament, where both teams will look to solidify their postseason résumés.