Fairfax, Va.-- UMBC men's basketball dropped a 69-53 decision to George Mason on Saturday night. Junior Dimitrije Spasojevic (Vrsac, Serbia) led the way with 15 points, adding six rebounds, one of three Retrievers in double figures.

UMBC falls to 6-8 on the year, while the Patriots improve to 11-1.

Spasojevic led a trio of Retrievers in double figures with 15 points, chipping in six rebounds. Senior K.J. Jackson (Missouri City, Texas) added 12 points with L.J. Owens (Annapolis, Md./Severn School/William & Mary) chipping in 10 in the loss.

Jordan Miller led the way for the Patriots with 17 points with Jamal Hartwell II and Javon Greene adding 14 each.

George Mason got out to a fast start, taking a 9-0 lead in the first two minutes forcing a timeout by the Retrievers. Following the timeout, UMBC put together a 7-0 run to pull within two. Brandon Horvath (West River, Md./Southern), Dimitrije Spasojevic and Ricky Council II (Durham, N.C.) each had buckets on the run that forced a Patriot timeout.

However, Mason responded with a 5-0 spurt of their own, holding the Retrievers scoreless over a three-minute stretch to push the lead back to nine. As was the case for much of the half, both teams would go back and forth with UMBC then holding the Patriots without a bucket for a two-minute stretch to pull back within three led by five straight points from K.J. Jackson. 

Jackson would hit a layup and draw the foul for an old fashioned three-point play, then drive baseline hitting a pretty reverse layup. However, the Patriots would take a 31-24 lead into the locker rooms. 

Both teams shot under 40 percent in the opening half with Jackson, Horvath and Council II each had five points in the half with Horvath adding four rebounds.

The Patriots came out of the locker room the way they opened the game scoring the first six points of the half. UMBC answered back with six straight points from Spasojevic to keep UMBC within striking distance.

However, Mason would take a 20 point lead at the midway point of the half. UMBC got within 14 late after K.J. Jackson drilled a deep three from the wing, but it would not be enough, as George Mason held on for a 69-53 win against the Retrievers. 

UMBC men's basketball will have off for the holiday break before closing out the non-conference season at home against Penn State York. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN3. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.