VCU holds off George Mason to claim the Atlantic 10 title and secure a spot in the NCAA tournament with a thrilling 66-63 victory on Sunday. Max Shulga led the charge with 18 points, while Joe Bamisile clinched the win by sinking two free throws with just half a second remaining on the clock.
In a tense final stretch, Darius Maddox drained a three-pointer with 2:27 left, narrowing the gap to 59-58 for the Patriots. After a timeout, Shulga regained control, showcasing his poise by hitting a step-back three-pointer with 1:59 on the clock. Jalen Haynes responded with a layup for George Mason 39 seconds later, closing the deficit to three points. However, Zach Anderson’s missed three-pointer with just four seconds left forced Newton to foul Bamisile, sealing the Rams’ victory.
In addition to Shulga’s standout performance, Bamisile and Jack Clark contributed significantly, each scoring 17 points for VCU (28-6). Shulga, recognized as the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, was impressive at the free-throw line, converting 8 of 9 attempts as the Rams finished 22 for 27 overall.
On the other side, Haynes led George Mason (26-8) with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Maddox added 12 points, complemented by three steals. Both Anderson and Brayden O’Connor chipped in with 10 points each, contributing to a competitive effort.
The matchup was significant, as both VCU and George Mason finished the regular season tied for the championship with impressive 15-3 records. This victory marked the Rams’ ninth appearance in the conference championship game since joining the Atlantic 10 in the 2012-13 season.
