George Mason Stuns No. 25 Saint Louis, 86-57

Patriots hand Billikens their worst loss of the season

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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George Mason University's men's basketball team pulled off a major upset, defeating the 25th-ranked Saint Louis Billikens 86-57 in their regular-season finale. Jahari Long led the way for the Patriots with 21 points and 9 assists, while Kory Mincy added 15 points. The loss was the worst of the season for Saint Louis, who had already clinched the top seed in the upcoming Atlantic 10 tournament.

Why it matters

This victory is a significant accomplishment for the George Mason program, as they defeated a ranked opponent for the first time since 2024. It also raises questions about Saint Louis' form heading into the postseason, as they suffered their most lopsided defeat of the year.

The details

George Mason opened up a 43-34 halftime lead after Saint Louis star center Robbie Avila was limited to just 5 scoreless minutes in the first half due to foul trouble. The Patriots then pulled away in the second half, at one point going on a 17-0 run to build a 34-point advantage. George Mason shot an impressive 57.6% from the field for the game, including 73.1% in the second half.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Fairfax, Virginia.

The players

Jahari Long

A key player for George Mason, scoring 21 points and dishing out 9 assists in the upset victory.

Robbie Avila

The star center for Saint Louis, who was limited to just 12 minutes and 2 points due to foul trouble.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

Saint Louis will play Fordham or George Washington in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals in Pittsburgh on Friday. George Mason will face La Salle or St. Bonaventure in Thursday's Atlantic 10 second round.

The takeaway

This upset victory for George Mason over a highly ranked Saint Louis team is a major boost for the Patriots' program and raises questions about the Billikens' form heading into the postseason conference tournament.