ST. LOUIS – Robbie Avila scored a game-high-tying 27 points, Isaiah Swope tossed in 22 and Kalu Anya grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds, but league-leading George Mason escaped Chaifetz Arena with a 76-74 overtime victory over Saint Louis Tuesday night in a key Atlantic 10 Conference match-up.
 
Avila (nine rebounds) and Anya (eight points) narrowly missed double-doubles for the Billikens, who twice overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to play their first overtime game of the season. Anya, who collected seven offensive rebounds, added a game-high and season-high-tying five assists.
 
George Mason led 45-35 with 15:07 remaining. Following a 7-0 run by SLU, the Patriots responded with a 9-2 spurt to go on top 54-44 at the 10:33 mark.
 
Avila, who equaled his career high of five 3-pointers (5-of-10), buried three of those treys in a 12-2 run that knotted the score at 56 with 6:44 to play.
 
George Mason outscored Saint Louis 10-3 over a span of 4:32 to go in front 66-59 with 2:12 left. Then it was the Billikens' turn again, closing regulation with an 11-4 flurry book-ended by a pair of Swope 3-pointers, the second one coming just before the buzzer.
 
Neither team could muster much offense in the extra session, converting just one field goal apiece. The Patriots sank 3-of-4 from the foul line in the final 37 seconds to secure the victory.
 
George Mason led 13-4 before SLU got its offense clicking. A 19-8 surge, including nine points from Avila, gave the Billikens their only lead of the game, 23-21, with 3:16 left. George Mason led 30-28 at intermission.
 
The Billikens play at Loyola Chicago Friday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.