By Tiffany Y. Boggs, Student Media. Edited by Chelsea Xu, UL Marketing and Communications.
On November 7, at 5:30 p.m. sharp, the doors of EagleBank Arena on George Mason University’s Fairfax campus swung open to a sea of green and gold. Students poured in, collecting bright yellow “Gold Rush 2025” T-shirts before diving into games like Mario Smash Kart and Skee-Ball, face painting, bracelet making, and more—all to kick off the 2025-2026 basketball season in true Patriot style.
Hosted by George Mason University Athletics and co-hosted by the Patriot Activities Council (PAC), Student Involvement (SI), and Student Government (SG), the annual Gold Rush tradition brings students, families, and alumni together for one energetic night of school spirit before the first men’s basketball game of the season.
Coming on the heels of the women’s historic 2025 NCAA Tournament appearance and the upcoming 20th anniversary of the men’s dramatic 2006 Final Four run, the Gold Rush game is a reminder that George Mason basketball continues to be one of the university’s most spirited and important traditions.
“The purpose behind it (Gold Rush) is to really help with building school spirit, community and bring people together before the big basketball game”, said Patriot Activities Council Campus Event Lead Tina Dang.
According to Dang, the planning process took about two months and included activities that have become Gold Rush staples, such as bracelet making and arcade-style games. She said her team aims to make the event accessible for everyone, pointing to the family-friendly arcade games and craft stations that have become hallmarks of the night.
Throughout the arena, students laughed, cheered, and snapped photos as music filled the stands. For Zoe Oliver, a junior majoring in government and vice president of marketing and public relations for Student Government, it marked her third Gold Rush, and her favorite George Mason tradition.
“Every single time I’m at Gold Rush I feel George Mason brings the hype. I love to get my face painted,” Oliver said, “I love sitting in the student section, I love the free shirts, and I’ve just had fun every time.”
As a fan of the Patriots, Oliver said she looked forward to the win and hopes more students experience the excitement of George Mason basketball.
The halftime show featured The Master of Simon Sez, Steve Max (@simonsezguy), who challenged students to a high-energy showdown that ended with two winners instead of one. “I’m feeling really generous,” Max said with a grin.
When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard lit up: Patriots 96, Winthrop 90. The crowd erupted, celebrating both the win and the return of a beloved Mason tradition.
That’s the Mason spirit—loud, proud, and united.