University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
St. Bonaventure (Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals)
Minutemen Advance To Semifinals Of A-10 Tourney
March 08, 2001 | Men's Basketball
March 8, 2001
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Monty Mack 29 points including perfect 5-for-5 3-point shooting the second half as Massachusetts defeated St. Bonaventure 79-58 Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament.
UMass (14-14, 12-5) snapped a four-game losing streak to the Bonnies, who defeated the Minutemen twice in the regular season including the final game of the regular season 66-59 last Monday.
The Minutemen led by as many as 11 in the first half, but St. Bonaventure (18-11, 9-8) closed to within 36-30 to start the second half. Each time the Bonnies surged, Mack answered with 3-pointers.
Mack, who leads the A10 in three-point shots made, tied his season-high point total and shot 8-for-10 3-pointers. He made only one basket from inside the arc - a runner at 15:25 of the second when he scored 11 straight points for UMass.
UMass' Micah Brand added 15 points and nine rebounds and Kitwana Rhymer had 11 points and nine rebounds.
The Bonnies shot just 6-for-21 from the field the first half (28.6 percent) and finished 18-for-50 (36 percent). Starter Vidal Massiah - who has averaged 12 points the past seven games - was held to 5 points, while captain Peter Van Paassen - who averages 14.2 ppg - missed his second game with a stress fracture in his right ankle.
Kevin Houston led St. Bonaventure with 18 points and J.R. Bremer added 17 points.
UMass opened an 11-1 lead to start the game and never trailed, holding a 30-22 edge at the break.
The win sets up a semifinals match between rivals UMass and St. Joseph's. In their sole meeting this season on Feb. 27, UMass squandered a 19-point first-half lead to lose 84-69.
