GMASON

TENN

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Jonas Aidoo scores 17 points as No. 17 Tennessee ends 3-game skid, beats George Mason 87-66

AP
Dec 05, 2023

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Jonas Aidoo scored a career-high 17 points and No. 17 Tennessee rediscovered its defense in an 87-66 victory over George Mason on Tuesday night.

Josiah-Jordan James added 15 points, Tobe Awaka added 11 and Dalton Knecht had 10 as the Vols (5-3) snapped a three-game losing streak.

“It all starts with confidence,” Aidoo said, adding that coach Rick Barnes “keeps comparing me to the best bigs in the country.”

Last week, Tennessee yielded 61 first-half points in a 100-92 loss to North Carolina. But the Vols held George Mason to 36% shooting in the first half to take a 39-26 lead.

Darius Maddox scored 15 points for the Patriots (7-2), whose four-game winning streak ended. Woody Newton added 13 points and Baraka OkoJie scored 11.

“I knew (the Vols) were going to play like it was their last game after three losses,” George Mason coach Tony Skinn said. “They were going to come out here with their guns blazing.”

The 6-foot-11 Aidoo scored eight of Tennessee’s first 13 points of the second half as the Vols extended their advantage to 22 points.

“When you look up length in the dictionary, there's a picture of Jonas Aidoo,” Skinn said. “He hit two 3-pointers. You can't defend that.”

Barnes said Aidoo “should expect a lot from himself,” adding: “I keep telling him he has know idea how dominant he can be.”

The Vols had a season-best 27 assists, led by Zakai Zeigler and James with six each.

“When we play the way we move the ball, we're going to get a lot of assists,” Barnes said.

THE TAKEAWAY

George Mason: The Patriots have three players (Keyshawn Hall, Amari Kelly and Maddox) averaging in double figures. But they need to get everybody involved in the offense. It’s a safe bet they aren’t going to see any other ranked teams on their schedule.

Tennessee: Barnes wasn't pleased with the Vols' defensive breakdowns in the first half against North Carolina. Odds are nothing like that will happen on his watch again. ... Barnes' first head coaching job was at George Mason in 1987-88 after he worked as an assistant there from 1980-85.

UP NEXT

George Mason: After a break for exams, the Patriots host Loyola (Maryland) on Dec. 16.

Tennessee: The Vols will play their fourth ranked team and second Big Ten opponent Saturday, when they host No. 20 Illinois.

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1st Half
GMU
Patriots
26
TENN
Volunteers
39

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Zakai Zeigler gains possession)
19:36		Santiago Vescovi misses three point jump shot
19:34		Patriots defensive rebound
18:59	+2	Keyshawn Hall makes two point layup	2-0
18:31	+2	Josiah-Jordan James makes two point jump shot	2-2
18:11		Ronald Polite III offensive foul
18:11		Ronald Polite III turnover (offensive foul)
17:54		Jonas Aidoo misses two point layup
17:52		Amari Kelly defensive rebound
17:37	+3	Keyshawn Hall makes three point jump shot (Amari Kelly assists)	5-2
17:14	+3	Dalton Knecht makes three point jump shot (Santiago Vescovi assists)	5-5
16:49		Keyshawn Hall misses two point jump shot
16:47		Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound
16:37	+2	Jonas Aidoo makes two point jump shot (Josiah-Jordan James assists)	5-7
16:21		Ronald Polite III misses two point jump shot
16:19		Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound
16:12		Josiah-Jordan James misses three point jump shot
16:10		Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound
16:02	+2	Josiah-Jordan James makes two point jump shot	5-9
15:45	+3	Darius Maddox makes three point jump shot	8-9
15:29	+2	Dalton Knecht makes two point layup (Jonas Aidoo assists)	8-11
15:04	+2	Amari Kelly makes two point layup	10-11
14:43		Santiago Vescovi turnover (bad pass) (Amari Kelly steals)
14:36		Darius Maddox misses three point jump shot
14:34		Dalton Knecht defensive rebound
14:25		Dalton Knecht misses two point layup
14:23		Darius Maddox defensive rebound
14:19		Santiago Vescovi personal foul
14:19		TV timeout
14:05		Keyshawn Hall misses two point layup
14:03		Tobe Awaka defensive rebound
13:46		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
13:44		Baraka Okojie defensive rebound
13:33		Baraka Okojie misses two point layup
13:31		Tobe Awaka defensive rebound
13:23	+2	Tobe Awaka makes two point layup (Jordan Gainey assists)	10-13
13:06		Jordan Gainey personal foul
12:56		Amari Kelly turnover (lost ball) (Zakai Zeigler steals)
12:32		Tobe Awaka misses two point layup
12:30		Keyshawn Hall defensive rebound
12:14		Keyshawn Hall misses three point jump shot
12:12		Keyshawn Hall offensive rebound
12:09		Keyshawn Hall misses two point layup
12:07		Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound
11:56		Josiah-Jordan James misses three point jump shot
11:54		Jordan Gainey offensive rebound
11:50		Baraka Okojie shooting foul (Josiah-Jordan James draws the foul)
11:50		TV timeout
11:50		Josiah-Jordan James misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:50		Josiah-Jordan James misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:50		Amari Kelly defensive rebound
11:25	+2	Darius Maddox makes two point jump shot	12-13
11:10		Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot
11:08		Keyshawn Hall defensive rebound
10:55		Baraka Okojie misses two point layup
10:53		Jordan Gainey defensive rebound
10:46	+2	Josiah-Jordan James makes two point layup (Jordan Gainey assists)	12-15
10:29		Amari Kelly misses three point jump shot
10:27		Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound
10:20		J.P. Estrella offensive foul
10:20		J.P. Estrella turnover (offensive foul)
9:51		Darius Maddox misses three point jump shot
9:49		Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound
9:41	+2	Freddie Dilione V makes two point layup	12-17
9:17		Jordan Gainey shooting foul (Darius Maddox draws the foul)
9:17	+1	Darius Maddox makes regular free throw 1 of 2	13-17
9:17	+1	Darius Maddox makes regular free throw 2 of 2	14-17
9:10		Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot
9:08		Darius Maddox defensive rebound
8:59		Darius Maddox turnover (bad pass) (Santiago Vescovi steals)
8:53		Freddie Dilione V misses three point jump shot
8:51		Darius Maddox defensive rebound
8:36		Woody Newton turnover (lost ball) (Jahmai Mashack steals)
8:08		Jahmai Mashack misses three point jump shot
8:06		Darius Maddox defensive rebound
7:43		Darius Maddox misses three point jump shot
7:41		Volunteers defensive rebound
7:37		TV timeout
7:24	+3	Zakai Zeigler makes three point jump shot (Josiah-Jordan James assists)	14-20
6:54		Keyshawn Hall turnover (lost ball) (Josiah-Jordan James steals)
6:44	+3	Jonas Aidoo makes three point jump shot (Josiah-Jordan James assists)	14-23
6:25	+2	Tre' Wood makes two point jump shot	16-23
6:17		Zakai Zeigler turnover (bad pass)
5:50	+3	Baraka Okojie makes three point jump shot (Amari Kelly assists)	19-23
5:32	+3	Zakai Zeigler makes three point jump shot (Jonas Aidoo assists)	19-26
5:05		Jared Billups misses three point jump shot
5:03		Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound
4:57		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
4:55		Keyshawn Hall defensive rebound
4:38		Dalton Knecht shooting foul (Baraka Okojie draws the foul)
4:38	+1	Baraka Okojie makes regular free throw 1 of 2	20-26
4:38		Baraka Okojie misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:38		Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound
4:28	+2	Jonas Aidoo makes two point layup (Josiah-Jordan James assists)	20-28
4:08		Baraka Okojie turnover (bad pass) (Josiah-Jordan James steals)
3:48		Keyshawn Hall shooting foul (Josiah-Jordan James draws the foul)
3:48		TV timeout
3:48		Josiah-Jordan James misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:48	+1	Josiah-Jordan James makes regular free throw 2 of 2	20-29
3:33	+2	Darius Maddox makes two point layup	22-29
3:17		Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot
3:15		Amari Kelly defensive rebound
3:01		Keyshawn Hall misses three point jump shot
2:59		Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound
2:55	+2	Jordan Gainey makes two point layup (Zakai Zeigler assists)	22-31
2:30	+2	Amari Kelly makes two point jump shot	24-31
2:17	+2	Jonas Aidoo makes two point jump shot (Josiah-Jordan James assists)	24-33
1:52		Santiago Vescovi shooting foul (Baraka Okojie draws the foul)
1:52	+1	Baraka Okojie makes regular free throw 1 of 1	25-33
1:52	+1	Baraka Okojie makes regular free throw 2 of 2	26-33
1:39		Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot
1:37		Amari Kelly defensive rebound
1:18		Baraka Okojie turnover (bad pass) (Jordan Gainey steals)
1:14		Woody Newton blocks Josiah-Jordan James's two point layup
1:13		Dalton Knecht offensive rebound
1:13		Baraka Okojie shooting foul (Dalton Knecht draws the foul)
1:13		Dalton Knecht misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:13	+1	Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 2 of 2	26-34
0:53		Amari Kelly misses two point layup
0:51		Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound
0:46	+3	Josiah-Jordan James makes three point jump shot (Jordan Gainey assists)	26-37
0:18		Ronald Polite III misses two point layup
0:16		Amari Kelly offensive rebound
0:14		Amari Kelly misses two point layup
0:12		Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound
0:10		Volunteers 30 second timeout
0:02	+2	Jordan Gainey makes two point layup (Zakai Zeigler assists)	26-39
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
GMU
Patriots
40
TENN
Volunteers
48

Time		Play	Score
19:53	+2	Dalton Knecht makes two point layup (Josiah-Jordan James assists)	26-41
19:26		Keyshawn Hall misses three point jump shot
19:24		Dalton Knecht defensive rebound
19:18	+3	Jonas Aidoo makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	26-44
18:56		Keyshawn Hall misses three point jump shot
18:54		Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound
18:40	+2	Dalton Knecht makes two point layup (Jonas Aidoo assists)	26-46
18:18		Patriots turnover (back court violation)
18:10		Amari Kelly blocks Dalton Knecht's two point layup
18:08		Keyshawn Hall defensive rebound
18:01	+3	Keyshawn Hall makes three point jump shot (Ronald Polite III assists)	29-46
17:43	+2	Jonas Aidoo makes two point layup (Dalton Knecht assists)	29-48
17:26		Ronald Polite III turnover (lost ball) (Josiah-Jordan James steals)
17:19	+2	Jonas Aidoo makes two point layup (Zakai Zeigler assists)	29-50
17:19		Keyshawn Hall shooting foul (Jonas Aidoo draws the foul)
17:19	+1	Jonas Aidoo makes regular free throw 1 of 1	29-51
17:15		Patriots 30 second timeout
17:06	+2	Baraka Okojie makes two point layup	31-51
16:39		Jonas Aidoo misses two point layup
16:37		Josiah-Jordan James offensive rebound
16:32	+2	Josiah-Jordan James makes two point jump shot (Santiago Vescovi assists)	31-53
16:08	+3	Darius Maddox makes three point jump shot (Baraka Okojie assists)	34-53
15:53		Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot
15:51		Santiago Vescovi offensive rebound
15:48		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
15:46		Keyshawn Hall defensive rebound
15:38		Jonas Aidoo blocks Keyshawn Hall's two point layup
15:37		Volunteers defensive rebound
15:37		TV timeout
15:21	+3	Santiago Vescovi makes three point jump shot (Jonas Aidoo assists)	34-56
14:58		Darius Maddox misses two point jump shot
14:56		Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound
14:47		Josiah-Jordan James turnover (bad pass)
14:23		Keyshawn Hall misses three point jump shot
14:21		Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound
14:13		Jahmai Mashack turnover (bad pass) (Keyshawn Hall steals)
14:07		Keyshawn Hall misses two point layup
14:05		Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound
13:47	+2	Josiah-Jordan James makes two point jump shot	34-58
13:16	+2	Tre' Wood makes two point layup	36-58
12:52	+2	Tobe Awaka makes two point layup (Santiago Vescovi assists)	36-60
12:52		Tre' Wood shooting foul (Tobe Awaka draws the foul)
12:52	+1	Tobe Awaka makes regular free throw 1 of 1	36-61
12:37		Tobe Awaka blocks Darius Maddox's two point layup
12:35		Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound
12:33		Jahmai Mashack turnover (lost ball) (Austin Ball steals)
12:26		Jahmai Mashack blocks Darius Maddox's two point layup
12:26		Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound
12:20		Tre' Wood personal foul
12:15		Jordan Gainey misses two point jump shot
12:13		Tobe Awaka offensive rebound
12:02		Freddie Dilione V turnover (lost ball) (Tre' Wood steals)
11:51		Jahmai Mashack blocks Amari Kelly's two point layup
11:49		Freddie Dilione V defensive rebound
11:45		Dalton Knecht misses two point jump shot
11:43		Tobe Awaka offensive rebound
11:38		Jahmai Mashack misses three point jump shot
11:36		Woody Newton defensive rebound
11:25		Austin Ball misses three point jump shot
11:23		Tobe Awaka defensive rebound
11:19		Jordan Gainey misses two point layup
11:17		Darius Maddox defensive rebound
11:09	+3	Woody Newton makes three point jump shot (Tre' Wood assists)	39-61
10:47		Dalton Knecht misses two point jump shot
10:45		Tobe Awaka offensive rebound
10:29		Woody Newton shooting foul (Freddie Dilione V draws the foul)
10:29		TV timeout
10:29		Freddie Dilione V misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:29	+1	Freddie Dilione V makes regular free throw 2 of 2	39-62
10:22		Jordan Gainey personal foul
10:22		Freddie Dilione V personal foul
10:13	+2	Austin Ball makes two point layup (Amari Kelly assists)	41-62
9:49	+3	Santiago Vescovi makes three point jump shot (Dalton Knecht assists)	41-65
9:28	+3	Darius Maddox makes three point jump shot	44-65
9:03		Darius Maddox shooting foul (Josiah-Jordan James draws the foul)
9:03		Josiah-Jordan James misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:03	+1	Josiah-Jordan James makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-66
8:46		Amari Kelly turnover (out of bounds)
8:38		Amari Kelly personal foul
8:36		Santiago Vescovi misses three point jump shot
8:34		Austin Ball defensive rebound
8:29		Tre' Wood turnover (lost ball)
8:07	+2	Tobe Awaka makes two point layup (Zakai Zeigler assists)	44-68
7:53		Amari Kelly misses three point jump shot
7:51		Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound
7:44		Amari Kelly personal foul
7:44		TV timeout
7:44	+1	Tobe Awaka makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-69
7:44	+1	Tobe Awaka makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-70
7:22		Austin Ball turnover (out of bounds)
7:13		Josiah-Jordan James turnover (bad pass) (Malik Henry steals)
7:00	+2	Woody Newton makes two point layup	46-70
6:53		Volunteers 30 second timeout
6:36		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
6:34		Woody Newton defensive rebound
6:26	+2	Malik Henry makes two point layup (Baraka Okojie assists)	48-70
6:05		Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot
6:03		Tobe Awaka offensive rebound
6:01	+2	Tobe Awaka makes two point layup	48-72
5:45	+3	Woody Newton makes three point jump shot (Jared Billups assists)	51-72
5:20		Tobe Awaka misses two point jump shot
5:18		Woody Newton defensive rebound
5:05	+3	Woody Newton makes three point jump shot	54-72
4:45	+3	Jordan Gainey makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	54-75
4:28		Tobe Awaka shooting foul (Malik Henry draws the foul)
4:28		Malik Henry misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:28		Malik Henry misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:28		Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound
4:12		Baraka Okojie shooting foul (Cade Phillips draws the foul)
4:12	+1	Cade Phillips makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-76
4:12	+1	Cade Phillips makes regular free throw 2 of 2	54-77
4:01		Baraka Okojie turnover (lost ball) (Zakai Zeigler steals)
3:56		Austin Ball shooting foul (Santiago Vescovi draws the foul)
3:56		TV timeout
3:56		Santiago Vescovi misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:56	+1	Santiago Vescovi makes regular free throw 2 of 2	54-78
3:44	+3	Austin Ball makes three point jump shot (Baraka Okojie assists)	57-78
3:23		Jordan Gainey misses two point jump shot
3:21		Cade Phillips offensive rebound
3:21		Woody Newton shooting foul (Cade Phillips draws the foul)
3:21	+1	Cade Phillips makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-79
3:21	+1	Cade Phillips makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-80
3:00	+3	Baraka Okojie makes three point jump shot (Darius Maddox assists)	60-80
2:51		Malik Henry blocks Jonas Aidoo's two point layup
2:50		Volunteers offensive rebound
2:47		Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot
2:45		J.P. Estrella personal foul
2:34		Austin Ball misses three point jump shot
2:32		Malik Henry offensive rebound
2:30		Malik Henry misses two point layup
2:28		J.P. Estrella defensive rebound
2:18		Malik Henry blocks Jordan Gainey's two point layup
2:16		Woody Newton defensive rebound
2:14		Austin Ball misses two point layup
2:12		Austin Ball offensive rebound
2:12	+2	Austin Ball makes two point layup	62-80
2:12		Cade Phillips shooting foul (Austin Ball draws the foul)
2:12		Austin Ball misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:12		Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound
1:56	+2	J.P. Estrella makes two point jump shot (Jahmai Mashack assists)	62-82
1:42		Austin Ball misses two point layup
1:40		Cameron Carr defensive rebound
1:24	+2	J.P. Estrella makes two point layup (Freddie Dilione V assists)	62-84
1:11		Woody Newton misses three point jump shot
1:09		Freddie Dilione V defensive rebound
1:03		Freddie Dilione V misses two point layup
1:01		Tre' Wood defensive rebound
0:50	+2	Malik Henry makes two point layup (Tre' Wood assists)	64-84
0:45		Malik Henry shooting foul (J.P. Estrella draws the foul)
0:45	+1	J.P. Estrella makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-85
0:45		J.P. Estrella misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:45		Jahmai Mashack offensive rebound
0:39		Freddie Dilione V turnover (lost ball) (Woody Newton steals)
0:34		Woody Newton turnover (bad pass)
0:22	+2	J.P. Estrella makes two point dunk (Cameron Carr assists)	64-87
0:10		J.P. Estrella shooting foul (Woody Newton draws the foul)
0:10	+1	Woody Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-87
0:10	+1	Woody Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-87
0:00		End of period

+ 1

Woody Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2