The College of Charleston men’s basketball team steps out of the Southern Conference to face George Mason Saturday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va.  The game will be televised on ESPN2 as part of Bracket Buster.

The Cougars and Patriots have only met twice, with the Cougars coming away with the victory on both occasions.  Charleston took the last meeting, 74-70, back on Dec. 12, 1998.

Charleston is 2-1 in BracketBuster games.  The Cougars faced Western Michigan in its first Bracket Buster appearance Feb. 21, 2004, and fell to the Broncos, 78-83.  CofC defeated Virginia Commonwealth, 85-75, Feb. 19, 2005, in their second appearance and in their last BracketBuster game, came away with an 83-75 win over Georgia State, Feb. 18, 2006.

Charleston is 18-9 and has won its last five of six games, including a 73-72 win over Appalachian State Feb. 17.  The Cougars are led by Andrew Goudelock (Lilburn, Ga.) with 19.3 points a game.  Jeremy Simmons (Lithonia, Ga.) paces the team in rebounds with 7.9 a game.

George Mason is 16-11 and has lost its last two games, its most recent a 63-60 decision against William and Mary.  The Patriots are led by Cam Long with 12.8 points per game.  Ryan Pearson is pulling down a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per game.

Charleston returns to Southern Conference play for its final two games of the regular season, with a Feb. 25 stint at Wofford and then a Feb. 27 game at Furman.  The Cougars are leading the SoCon South Division by a half-game over the Terriers.  Charleston has already clinched at least a bye in next month’s league tournament.