FAIRFAX, Va. --  Justin Kier scored 22 points, including the go-ahead layup late in the second half, and George Mason slipped past Morgan State for an 86-79 win Friday night.

George Mason (6-7) trailed most of the game but stayed close, tying the score at 69 and then at 71-all before edging into its first lead of second half with Kier's layup to make it 73-71 with under 3:39 left.

Morgan State's LaPri McCray-Pace hit a jumper to knot the game again at 73 before Kier hit the bucket to put George Mason on top for good with under three minutes to play. Otis Livingson II quickly padded the advantage with a layup and the Patriots held on from there.

Jaire Grayer added 19 points and Goanar Mar and Livingston had 14 apiece for George Mason, which shot 53 percent from the field. The Patriots also outscored the Bears inside the paint by a commanding 40-22 margin

Tiwian Kendley made his season debut after missing Morgan State's first 10 games. The senior led all scorers with a game-high 31 points (10-22 FG) and connected on 7-of-11 3-pointers. Senior forward Phillip Carr recorded his fifth double-double of the season by adding 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Bears (4-7) and sophomore David Syfax had 11 points and three steals.

Kendley certainly didn't show any signs of rust as the Harlem native scored the first 12 of his team's 15 points to help give the Bears a 15-8 lead with 13:14 remaining in the first half. 

The Bears capped the first half on a 15-4 run and led the Patriots 42-31 at the intermission.

Morgan State will attempt to snap its 5-game losing streak when they take on the Grand Canyon Lopes at the Orleans Center in Las Vegas on on Wednesday, December 27.