CLEVELAND (AP) — Conqueror of past college basketball giants in March, George Mason has a chance to drop another behemoth.
Five years after a stunning run to the Final Four, the Patriots will face top-seeded Ohio State on Sunday in the third round of the NCAA tournament. In 2006, George Mason busted brackets from coast to coast by beating Michigan State, North Carolina and Connecticut.
On Friday, George Mason (27-6) rallied to beat Villanova and set up a meeting with the well-balanced Buckeyes (33-2), who set a tournament assist record in their second-round blowout of No. 16 seed Texas-San Antonio.
Ohio State coach Thad Matta said his players are fully aware of George Mason’s reputation and will not take the mid-major school lightly.
