Despite being picked tenth in the Atlantic 10’s Preseason Poll, first-year head coach Tony Skinn has George Mason off to a 5-1 start and tied for second in the conference standings.
Critical to the Patriots early success has been UNLV transfer Keyshawn Hall starting all six games for Skinn and averaging a career-best 17.7 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 2.2 APG, sitting just outside the top-100 nationally in scoring this season.
While Hall began the campaign with just seven points, 10 rebounds, and two steals in a 72-61 win over Monmouth, the 6-foot-7 wing has only build on his opening performance.
Leading the Patriots to a 2-0 start with a 67-45 defeat of Austin Peay, Hall managed his first double-double of the season with 14 points, 10 rebounds, one assists, and a steal.
Just days later, Hall ushered George Mason to a 90-83 victory over Cornell with a career-high 29 points, adding 12 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a blocked shot in the process.
Heading down to Florida for the Jacksonville Classic this past week, Hall notched 18 points, eight rebounds, an assist, and a steal in the Patriots first loss of the season against Charlotte.
However, George Mason and Hall bounced back to defeat South Dakota State 73-71 behind a double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds, along with a game-winning shot from the reigning Co-A-10 Player of the Week.
Returning to Fairfax, VA at the weekend, Hall pushed the Patriots to their fifth win with yet another double-double performance, contributing 17 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in a 81-59 victory over East Carolina.
While pundits and coaches alike doubted George Mason and Skinn in the early preseason, his transfer class is proving this Patriots team is very capable of winning and will be competitive in the A-10 come conference play.
