University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
La Salle
Men's Hoops Rolls Past LaSalle, 82-48
February 09, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 9, 2000
AMHERST, Mass. (AP) - Chris Kirkland scored 26 points and Monty Mack added 20 to lead Massachusetts over LaSalle 82-48 in the Atlantic 10 Conference on Wednesday.
The victory broke a two-game losing streak for the Minutemen (12-10, 6-3 Atlantic Conference). The loss was the 11th in the last 13 games for LaSalle (8-12, 2-7).
UMass led 37-20 at halftime and then outscored LaSalle 23-12 in the first eight minutes of the second half to widen the lead to 60-32.
Donnie Carr scored 16 points and Victor Thomas added 11 for LaSalle.
The 26 points tied a career-high for Kirkland, which he set last year against George Washington. The senior forward went 10-for-19 from the field, 6-for-8 from the foul line and led his team with 8 rebounds. UMass outrebounded LaSalle 42-30.
Shannon Crooks, with 12, was the other double-figure scorer for the Minutemen.
The game was tied three times early, the last time at 15-15. Then, Mack hit from underneath and Kirkland followed with a pair of baskets as UMass took the lead for good at 21-15.
Kirkland had 16 of his points in the first half, and Mack added 12 before intermission.
LaSalle was held to 8-for-23 shooting from the field in the first half. Carr scored nine points for the Explorers, who shot 36 percent for the night.
