[PREVIEW] Mason men's basketball aims to protect their home court Saturday against Delaware

Corey Edwards attempts a lay-up against Drexel (Photo by John Irwin).

Entering the season, Delaware was slated to finish second in the Colonial Athletic Association. However, the Blue Hens opened the season against a tough stretch of non-conference opponents that included, Pittsburgh, Temple, Villanova and Duke. In their first 10 games of the season, Delaware managed to win only three games. Since then, the Blue Hens have made a respectable run to place them in the hunt at fifth in the CAA. They travel to Fairfax Saturday Feb. 9 to face the Patriots at 2 p.m. 

Key Returners

Devon Saddler -- Junior -- Guard

19.3 ppg. -- 4.6 rpg. -- 2.9 apg. -- 43 FG% -- 33 3-PT% 

Saddler is arguably the Blue Hens' most effective scoring option. Well, 19.3 points per game pretty much proves that point. Numbers never lie after all. Saddler is a skilled perimeter shooter, who has increased his three-point percentage, free throw percentage and shooting average from last year. He can penetrate and score on the drive which makes him a offensive threat that any team must attempt to contain. Mason has struggled against top scorers this season, allowing Drexel's Damion Lee to score 29 points, William & Mary's Marcus Thornton to score 19 points and Towson's Jerrelle Benimon to score 16 points. 

Jamelle Hagins -- Senior -- Forward

12.5 ppg. -- 10.6 rpg. -- 2.3 bpg. -- 54 FG% 

Hagins is a three-time letterwinner for Delaware, who has gradually increased his scoring and rebounding averages over the course of his career in Newark. On the defensive end, Hagins is a blocking specialist, turning away a little over two shots per game on average. In addition, he has an incredible knack for rebounding and has incrementally raised his rebounding average from 5.3 rpg. as a freshman to 10.6 rpg. as a senior. Hagins, in collusion with Saddler, create a high low game that spreads the floor and can open lanes to the basket for cutting guards or forwards. 

New Additions

Terrell Rogers -- Freshman -- Guard 

4.0 ppg. -- 1.5 rpg. -- 1.2 apg. -- 91 FT% 

Though he has struggled in his first collegiate year, Rogers has plenty of talent to boot. As a junior in high school in S.C., he led the state in scoring (29.7 ppg.) at Indian Land High School and as a senior after transferring to Evelyn Mack Academy in Charlotte, N.C., he averaged 29.3 points per game. At Delaware, he is averaging 16.6 minutes per game and has started in five games for the Blue Hens.