BROOKLYN, N.Y. (AP) Branden Frazier scored 14 points and Ryan Canty grabbed a career-best 19 rebounds as No. 13 Fordham held on to defeat 12th-seeded George Mason 70-67 Wednesday night in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Championship.
Fordham (10-20) advanced to the quarterfinals after snapping an eight-game losing skid and will face No. 5 Dayton (22-9) Thursday.
The Rams, who never trailed after making their first bucket of the game, had an 11-point lead with 15:44 to play. Bryon Allen scored eight points in 51 seconds to pull the Patriots within one, 67-66 with 17 seconds left. The Rams made 3 of 4 free throw attempts and Patrick Holloway missed a potential game-tying 3 at the buzzer to cap the scoring.
Frazier dished out five assists and Bryan Smith added 14 points for the Rams.
Allen scored 22 points and Erik Copes had 11 rebounds to lead George Mason (11-20).
