GAME NOTES: Colonial Athletic Association foes will collide in Philadelphia this evening, as the Drexel Dragons play host to the George Mason Patriots. George Mason has won its last two games to move to 16-6 overall and 8-3 against CAA competition. The most recent triumph came on Saturday by a score of 72-46 over James Madison, enabling the Patriots to remain perfect at home at 11-0. Unfortunately, they enter tonight's clash with a 3-4 record in true road tilts. As for Drexel, it is in desperate need of a victory after losing its last five games to fall to an embarrassing 2-9 in conference. On Saturday, the Dragons put forth their second-lowest scoring output of the season in a 63-40 loss to Northeastern. Back in November, George Mason completely dominated Drexel in an 85-38 decision, and the Patriots hold an 8-5 edge in the all-time series.

Playing in front of the largest home crowd in school history, George Mason absolutely crushed James Madison on Saturday, as Jim Larranaga earned his 200th win as GMU's head coach. The Patriots got 20 points from Folarin Campbell, and John Vaughan was close behind with 19 points. Will Thomas pitched in 14 points for George Mason, which connected on 53.2 percent of its field goal attempts and limited the opposition to 34.7 percent shooting from the floor. Thomas is scoring a team-high 16.0 ppg this season on 64.1 percent shooting from the floor, and he is pulling down 10.0 rpg as well. Vaughan checks in with 14.5 ppg, and Campbell adds 13.7 ppg to the mix. As a team, the Patriots are generating 71.8 ppg while limiting the opposition to 62.2 ppg.

Drexel is only generating 59.6 ppg this season on 40.4 percent shooting from the floor, and the team has turned the ball over 381 times in 23 games. Clearly, the lack of offensive production has been the driving force behind the club's struggles. Frank Elegar represents one of the lone bright spots for the Dragons, as he is scoring 15.5 ppg on 57.1 percent shooting to go along with 8.0 rpg and 39 blocks. The only other double-digit scorer in the lineup is Tramayne Hawthorne with 10.6 ppg, and he is tops with 77 assists and 43 steals. Against Northeastern on Saturday, Drexel was outscored 24-0 during one span in the second half to turn a close game into a blowout. Hawthorne scored 12 points for Drexel in that clash, but Elegar missed that contest with a back injury. Listed as questionable for tonight's game, Elegar represents the only chance the Dragons have of even staying close to the Patriots.

Don't expect tonight's clash to be quite as lopsided as the first meeting between these two teams. Still, the outcome will be the same.