Earlier within the day, Patriots Coach Dave Paulsen talked with the workforce in regards to the election ends in Georgia. It was a part of a year-long effort by the teaching workers to have interaction the gamers in dialogue about social justice and politics.
After which later Wednesday the group started to listen to in regards to the disturbances.
“It’s surreal and it’s disappointing. It’s disheartening,” Paulsen mentioned. “You hope out of one thing actually horrific — a terrorist assault on our authorities — we will reply and reassert democratic values.
“It was bizarre, however our guys needed to play — have somewhat sense of normalcy in what’s a loopy, loopy time simply throughout the board.”
George Mason senior Javon Greene, a Georgia native who voted in Tuesday’s senate runoff election, mentioned, “It was terrifying to see, particularly as a Black man understanding what they did to us on the Black Lives Matter protests and the way they let the Trump supporters come into the Capitol and do what they did. And for them to not do something, that damage me and the workforce.”
The son of a seven-term state senator in Pennsylvania, Rams Coach Mike Rhoades introduced distinctive perspective.
“I used to be actually disillusioned. I used to be indignant. I used to be upset. I used to be unhappy,” he mentioned. “I imply, come on, that is our nation.”
He mentioned his father’s greatest recommendation was: “Typically you get your [butt] whooped; it doesn’t go your method, and also you’ve bought to take your whooping and transfer on and get higher. Man, what are we doing? We’ve bought to show our nation higher that generally you don’t win, and as a substitute of crying about it … take it like a person, take it like an actual particular person. You didn’t win this time.”
He turned his consideration to his younger workforce.
“I need us to essentially study from it,” Rhoades mentioned. “That isn’t the way you deal with defeat. All of us get whooped. Let’s study from it. Man, we could be so significantly better.”
The Patriots (5-4, 1-2 Atlantic 10) led by 9 within the first half and one at intermission however shot 33 p.c within the second interval and did not cease the Rams from penetrating to the basket in falling behind by 15 factors.
VCU (9-2, 2-0) has received 5 straight in Fairfax County and 16 of the previous 21 conferences total. Sophomore Nah’Shon Hyland led the Rams with 23 factors and 10 rebounds.
Sophomore Josh Oduro paced the Patriots with 13 factors and 9 rebounds. Jordan Miller, George Mason’s main scorer averaging 17.eight factors, had six on 1-for-6 capturing. A.J. Wilson had 12 factors, six rebounds and three blocked photographs however missed the final 9½ minutes after struggling a head damage.
The Patriots bought off to a vibrant begin, however the Rams discovered their method and took the lead late within the first half. With time winding down, nonetheless, GMU’s Bahaïde Haïdara stole the ball at midcourt and beat the clock for a 32-31 lead.
The Rams established management after the break, piercing the Mason protection for straightforward baskets and forcing the hosts into turnovers and missed photographs.
The Patriots’ issues have been on peak show in a 30-second span when Haïdara missed two free throws, Hyland made a three-pointer and Tyler Kolek air-balled a three-point strive.
Two extra VCU layups sandwiched round Mason’s sixth turnover of the half left the Rams with a 48-37 lead. The Patriots didn’t threaten once more till the final two minutes.
Within the second of three consecutive residence video games, the Patriots on Saturday will face Richmond, the A-10′s preseason favourite. The Rams will host Rhode Island.
