George Mason High School’s boys basketball team narrowly escaped Stuarts Draft High School in a 49-47 thriller tonight in the Region B semifinals. Junior forward Will Nunley scored two points off an inbounds pass under the basket from senior forward Nate Ogle with under five seconds left to give the Mustangs the edge.

The Mustangs started off scoreless in the first four minutes of the game while the Cougars went on a 7-0 run. Then George Mason called a time-out and mounted a 22-3 run of their own. Stuarts Draft closed that first quarter lead to 30-24 by halftime and outscored the Mustangs 16-6 in the third to regain the lead. The Mustangs, only down by four, played the Cougars close in the final period until Nunley gave George Mason the lead with seconds left.

The Mustangs take on Dan River High School for the Region B championship Saturday at Eastern Mennonite University.