FAIRFAX, Virginia — Javon Bennett drained five three-pointers en route to a game-high 22 points as Dayton controlled George Mason from tipoff to buzzer. The Flyers, now 17-9 overall and 8-5 in the Atlantic 10, handed the Patriots their second home loss of the season despite George Mason entering at 21-6 overall and 9-5 in conference play.

Sophomore Amaël L’Etang matched Bennett’s output with 22 points, including a career-high performance capped by late layups. He struck first with a layup on Dayton’s opening possession, then added another on a feed from Jaiun Simon for a quick 4-0 lead. Bennett’s triple pushed the advantage to 7-2 after George Mason split free throws.

De’Shayne Montgomery extended the run with a fast-break layup, making it 9-2. Jordan Derkack’s free throws swelled the margin to 11-3 with 14:54 left in the half. George Mason answered with a 7-0 spurt to pull within one, but L’Etang’s old-fashioned three-point play restored order at 14-10.

L’Etang kept the pressure on, hitting a three for a 17-10 edge. The Patriots clawed back with five straight points. Bennett responded with another triple, reclaiming a 20-15 lead. L’Etang’s basket made it 23-18, and Montgomery’s reverse layup through contact preserved a 25-20 cushion at the 5:59 mark.

Three-point exchanges followed. Montgomery and Bennett connected from deep, pushing Dayton ahead 31-28 with 3:55 remaining. Keonte Jones capped the half with a fast-break dunk on Bennett’s alley-oop, sending the Flyers to the locker room up 39-33.

George Mason opened the second half with a basket. L’Etang fired back with a shot-clock three for a 46-38 lead. Montgomery’s floater and and-one stretched it to 49-38. Jacob Conner’s corner three on his first attempt of the night made it 52-40 with 16:08 to play.

A four-minute scoring drought ended when Bennett converted an and-one for a 56-44 advantage at 10:08. Bryce Heard’s pull-up jumper bumped it to 58-44. Bennett’s fourth three swelled the lead to 61-46 with 9:12 left. Simon’s three maintained a 16-point gap at 8:21.

Jones’ dunk hit 66-50 with 7:01 remaining. After Bennett split technical free throws, Jones powered home for an 18-point edge. Derkack’s three forged Dayton’s largest lead at 73-54 with five minutes left. L’Etang’s layup restored the 18-point bulge.

George Mason mounted a brief run. Bennett’s fifth three halted it at 78-62. L’Etang sealed the win with two layups, finishing with six rebounds alongside his 22 points. Montgomery added 10 points for Dayton.

Dayton dominated inside the numbers. The Flyers posted 20 assists on 29 made baskets, a season high. They committed just eight turnovers, their second-best mark in A-10 play. Bennett notched his eighth 20-point game this season. Simon contributed seven points and seven rebounds.

Dayton returns home to UD Arena for a 2 p.m. tipoff Saturday against Duquesne.