CHICAGO (Interstat) — A surging George Mason squad riding a nine-game winning streak will face a struggling Loyola Chicago team when the Patriots visit the Ramblers in an Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Joseph Gentile Center.

The Patriots (16-1, 4-0 A-10) have emerged as one of the nation’s biggest surprises, with their lone loss coming at Virginia Tech in early December. They are coming off an 86-80 home victory over VCU on Saturday, powered by balanced scoring from Fatt Hill (16 points), Riley Allenspach (16 points) and Kory Mincy (15 points, 5 assists).

Hill, a key player to watch, has been consistently productive. Over his last five games, the guard is averaging 12.4 points, including an 18-point performance against Penn on Dec. 28.

Conversely, Loyola Chicago (5-12, 1-3) has lost three straight, most recently a 101-66 road defeat at George Washington. The Ramblers have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 84.3 points during their current skid.

Their bright spot is forward Miles Rubin, who is coming off a 15-point, 10-rebound, 4-block effort in the loss to the Colonials. Rubin has recorded two double-doubles in his last four games and leads the team in rebounding and shot-blocking.

The matchup pits one of the conference’s most efficient offenses against one of its most porous defenses. George Mason averages 77.2 points per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Loyola Chicago allows 76.9 points per game and opponents are shooting 47.8% against them.

History will also be on the line for the Patriots, who can match their best start in program history (17-1) with a victory. The Ramblers, seeking to avoid falling to 1-4 in league play, will need a significant defensive turnaround to contain George Mason’s multifaceted attack.

Following this game, George Mason will host George Washington on Jan. 19. Loyola Chicago travels to face Dayton on Jan. 16.