Jan. 27, 2003
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GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
The Teams: Massachusetts (7-11, 1-5 A-10) at Dayton (13-3, 5-0 A-10)
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: University of Dayton Arena (13,266), Dayton, Ohio
Television: WHIO (Channel 7 in Dayton; Mike Hartsock, play-by-play; Mark Adams, color)
UMass Sports Radio: (WRNX 100.9 FM, Holyoke, flagship; Bob Behler, play-by-play; Jack Leaman, color)
Tickets: Available at the door or by calling 937.229.4433
Probable Massachusetts Starters
Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
F 2 Jackie Rogers 6-8 217 Sr.
F 22 Jeff Viggiano 6-6 210 Fr.
C 4 Gabe Lee 6-9 202 So.
G 1 Michael Lasme 6-1 185 Fr.
G 12 Anthony Anderson 5-11 164 Jr.
Probable Dayton Starters
Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
F 33 Brooks Hall 6-6 205 Sr.
F 45 Keith Waleskowski 6-9 230 Jr.
C 54 Sean Finn 6-11 245 Jr.
G 3 Ramod Marshall 6-2 175 Jr.
G 14 Mark Jones 6-1 170 So.
The Game: One of the Atlantic 10 Conference's youngest teams meets arguably its most experienced squad, as Massachusetts concludes a three-game road trip at West Division leader Dayton. Coach Steve Lappas' starting five features four first- or second-year players and one senior, while the Flyers counter with a unit that has started every game this season and includes four upperclassmen and a sophomore.
The Minutemen snapped a four-game losing streak with Saturday's 75-70 win at George Washington, and stand 7-11 overall and 1-5 in conference play (tied with this Saturday's opponent, Fordham, for fifth place in the A-10 East). UMass started the season 1-5, with all five losses coming at the hands of 2002 NCAA Tournament entrants, but has gone 6-6 since then, highlighted by a homecourt victory over then-No. 24 North Carolina State (USA Today/ESPN coaches poll).
Massachusetts' fortunes continue to rest on its defense, as it ranks fifth in the A-10 and 74th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 65.2 ppg. But, after yielding 60.3 ppg and 40.5 percent field goal shooting in non-conference games, the Minutemen's six league opponents have averaged 75.0 ppg and hit on 45.7 percent of their fielders.
UMass has allowed 62 or fewer points 10 times this season, going 6-4 in those contests, but it is 1-7 when its foe has netted 69 or more points. In league play, Massachusetts has given up 70 or more points in five of six starts after holding 10 of 12 non-league opponents to 70 or fewer points.
The red-hot Flyers are 13-3 overall, sit on top of the Atlantic 10 West at 5-0, and are receiving votes in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll. Off to its best start since a 16-3 beginning to the 1999-2000 campaign and its best league start in school history, Dayton has won six straight and nine of 10 (with the lone loss coming at then-No. 1 Duke, 85-74) after Saturday's 57-49 victory at Temple.
Coach Oliver Purnell's team is 10-0 on Tom Blackburn Court this season, the site of the 2003 Atlantic 10 Tournament, and the school's best-ever start on its 34-year-old homecourt. UD, shooting for its fourth consecutive 20-win season for the first time since a five-year run of 20-game winners from 1964-65 through 1968-69, is 48-12 (.800) here since the 1999-2000 season.
Minute-Matters: An inside look at Massachusetts as it aims to end Dayton's 10-game win streak at UD Arena, and post its second win in four tries on Blackburn Court.
The George Washington marked the 250th win of Steve Lappas' 15-year head coaching career.
Eight of coach Steve Lappas' 10 scholarship players are either in their first or second year at Massachusetts. The UMass roster features just two seniors in co-captains Jackie Rogers and Micah Brand, as first- and second-year Minutemen provide 66.4 percent (41.7 ppg) of the team's offense.
At George Washington, first- or second-year Minutemen combined for 70 of the team's 75 points, with rookies Michael Lasme (24 points), Gabe Lee (15) and Jeff Viggiano (13) joining 2002 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Anthony Anderson (10) to account for 62 of UMass' output.
In beating the Colonials for the sixth consecutive time, UMass had a season-high-tying four double-figure scorers for the fourth time this year. The Minutemen are 3-1 in those games, beating Rider, Marshall and George Washington, but losing to Indiana.
Massachusetts is off to its slowest start after 18 games since the 1986-87 campaign, when it also stood 7-11. UMass was 9-9 at this point in the season a year ago.
At 1-5 in the Atlantic 10, UMass is off to its slowest league start since coach John Calipari's first year (1988-89) in Amherst when it opened at 0-6. In 12 of 13 seasons since Calipari's debut, the Minutemen have posted a winning conference mark and won at least nine A-10 games.
The Minutemen are 5-3 in the Mullins Center this season, but stand 2-8 outside the Amherst city line with victories over Chaminade (69-55) and George Washington (75-70).
Since posting a 4-5 record outside Amherst during its 1990-91 conference campaign, UMass has been one of the Atlantic 10's most unwelcome visitors, posting nine winning marks and a 57-34 (.626) record away from home in regular-season league games.
The Minutemen ended an eight-game regular-season A-10 road skid with Saturday's 75-70 victory at George Washington, only their second conference road win in their last 13 outings away from Amherst.
Seven of Massachusetts' 11 losses this year have been to 2002 postseason tournament teams (the Minutemen are 1-6 vs. 2002 NCAA Tournament participants, 0-1 vs. 2002 NIT entrants). Dayton advanced to the second round of the 2002 NIT and is ranked 20th in the RPI Report.
The 2002-03 Minutemen have played the nation's 103rd-toughest schedule according to the RPI Report, as nine of their setbacks have been to teams who currently own .500 or better records.
Massachusetts is 2-8 vs. teams ranked from 1-150 in the RPI Report, 4-3 vs. teams rated 151 or lower with one Division II win to its credit. Seven of its losses are to teams ranked in the RPI Report's top 89.
Two of UMass' setbacks have been by a combined total of three points (two points to Lafayette, one point to Central Connecticut State), and eight of the 11 have come outside the Mullins Center.
The Minutemen are 6-6 after a 1-5 start. Five of their first six losses were to 2002 NCAA Tournament squads.
Massachusetts' 68-56 homecourt win over then-No. 24 (USA Today/ESPN coaches poll) North Carolina State marked its first over a ranked opponent since beating No. 21 Saint Joseph's, 75-70, in the semifinals of the 2001 Atlantic 10 Tournament at Philadelphia, and its first over a rated foe in Amherst since a 57-49 victory over No. 24 Temple, Feb. 28, 1999.
Over its last 10 games, UMass has averaged 66.3 ppg, while shooting 47.0 percent from the field en route to a 5-5 record. Those marks show improvement from the season's first eight games, when it went 2-6, averaged 58.4 ppg, and hit 40.6 percent from the floor.
The Minutemen have scored 66 or more points in eight of their last 12 games (averaging 65.2 ppg in that stretch and recording a 6-6 record) after reaching that mark on just two occasions over the season's first six contests when they scored at a 58.0 ppg clip and went 1-5.
While UMass' play at the offensive end of the floor has picked up steam, its defensive work has continued to impress. The Minutemen have allowed 60 or fewer points five times in its last 10 starts, posting a 4-1 record in those games.
In eight Mullins Center appearances this season, the Minutemen have averaged 68.2 ppg en route to a 5-3 record, while shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from three-point range and 67.2 percent at the free throw line. However, it's been a different storyline away from Amherst, where Massachusetts has dropped eight of 10 games, averaged 58.4 ppg, and hit 41.6 percent from the floor, 23.9 percent from three-point range and 58.8 percent at the line.
UMass has shot 48.9 percent from the field in its seven wins this year, 40.4 percent from three-point range and 71.3 percent at the free throw line, while outrebounding its foes by 1.8 rpg and averaging 71.7 points. But, in 11 setbacks, the Minutemen have averaged 57.1 ppg and connected on 41.2 percent of their field goals, 20.7 percent of their treys and 55.9 percent of their foul shots, while being outrebounded by 4.8 boards per game.
Massachusetts has out-shot its opponent from the field in 19 of 20 wins (the Temple victory in Amherst a year ago was the lone exception) and 26 times all-told with Steve Lappas on the sideline. In each of its seven victories this season, UMass has out-shot its foe from the floor.
The Minutemen are 4-1 this season and 11-3 over the last two years when shooting 48.0 percent or better from the floor, with seven of those efforts coming outside the Mullins Center.
UMass has won 22 of its last 24 games when shooting 50.0 percent or better from the field, including a 2-1 mark this year and a 4-2 record in Steve Lappas' tenure in Amherst.
All three of the Minutemen's 50.0 percent shooting efforts this season have come in the Mullins Center, a season-high 57.8 percent performance against Marshall, a 51.1 percent effort against Florida International and a 50.9 percent outing vs. Xavier.
Massachusetts' red-hot 57.8 percent performance from the floor against Marshall marked its best shooting game since a sizzling 65.8 percent outing vs. George Washington in the 2000 Atlantic 10 Tournament.
The Minutemen own a 28-9 (.757) record over the last three-plus seasons when scoring 70 or more points, including a 3-2 mark this season when reaching that plateau.
UMass is 7-3 this season when putting 66 or more points on the scoreboard, 0-8 when scoring 65 or fewer points.
Speaking of scoring, under Steve Lappas' direction, the Minutemen are 20-11 all-told when scoring 60 or more points, 0-16 when tallying 59 or fewer. In seven of 11 losses this year, UMass has been held to 59 points or less.
Massachusetts has made at least one trey in 140-consecutive games (its opponents have a string of 84-straight games with at least one bonus basket) and in 516 of 523 games it has played since the arc was added to the college game in 1986-87.
The Minutemen have nailed a season-best eight three balls five times this season, going 3-2 in those contests. In each of its seven victories this year, Massachusetts has made at least five three-point buckets, but in eight of its 11 losses, it has made three or fewer shots from beyond the arc.
UMass has made five or more trifectas in 17 of its 20 victories (and 33 of 47 starts all-told) in the Steve Lappas Era. The Minutemen are 17-16 all-told under Lappas when making five or more three-point baskets, including this year's 7-3 mark.
In its season-high three-game win streak, Massachusetts shot 44.2 percent (19-for-43) from the three-point line, but in dropping five of seven games since then, it has hit just 24.1 percent (27-of-112) from beyond the arc.
The Minutemen averaged 7.0 made three-pointers a year ago to set a school single-season record with 204 treys, but have averaged 4.7 made triples this year while draining 85 trifectas.
UMass shot 34.8 percent from three-point range last season (the program's eighth-best one-year mark), but has connected on 28.1 percent of its treys this year. The Minutemen drained 36.5 percent of their three-point attempts a year ago in A-10 play, but this season have hit on just 22.7 percent, including 20.6 percent (14-for-68) over their last five starts.
In its 59-48 loss to Connecticut, Massachusetts shot a season-low 41.2 percent from the free throw line to drop its season mark to 58.0 percent. But, in the 12 games since then it has connected on 64.8 percent (166-of-256) of its foul shots to improve its season percentage to .632. In six Atlantic 10 contests, though, UMass has hit just 56.4 percent from the free throw line.
The Minutemen averaged 14.4 free throws and converted on 62.6 percent of their charity tosses over the season's first eight games (and were outscored 103-72 at the stripe as a result), but they've averaged 22.2 attempts and shot 63.5 percent at the line over the last 10 games while making three fewer free throws (141) than their opponents (144).
How important is getting to the foul line to UMass? In Massachusetts' seven victories, it has averaged 22.9 free throw attempts and outscored its opponents, 114-73, at the line. But, in its 11 losses, it has made just 16.1 trips to the stripe and been outscored by its foes at the line, 174-99, as opponents have made (174) nearly as many free throws as the Minutemen have attempted (177).
In its upset win over No. 24 North Carolina State, Massachusetts was 31-of-41 (75.6 percent) from the free throw line, but it has hit just 57.5 percent (77-for-134) in seven games since then.
The UMass bench has outscored its opponent's men of pine seven times this year, while providing an average of 14.7 ppg (compared to 16.1 ppg for its foe). The Minutemen have posted a 3-4 mark this season when their bench outscores the opponent's reserves, however, only once in the last nine games have they accomplished that feat.
The Minutemen have forced 15 or more turnovers 10 times this season, with a high of 19 four times. UMass has forced 16 or more turnovers in five of its seven wins this season.
Massachusetts had 23 turnovers at George Washington, its second-highest total on the season, after recording just 44 miscues in its previous three outings. On the year, UMass is averaging 15.3 turnovers per outing.
UMass ranks fifth in the Atlantic 10 in assists with 13.94 helpers per game. The Minutemen have recorded 17 or more assists in five of their seven victories this season, including a season-high 20 dimes against Florida International.
For the season, Massachusetts is a -2.2 rpg on the glass. But in A-10 play, it is a -8.6 rpg (28.2-36.8) and has been outrebounded in each game.
Seven different players have led the Minutemen in rebounding at least once this season, with six players pacing the squad two or more times. Jackie Rogers has been the team's top rebounder on six occasions, while Micah Brand and Michael Lasme have each paced the squad in rebounding three times, with Anthony Anderson, Jeff Viggiano and Gabe Lee having each done it twice.
Under Steve Lappas, Massachusetts is 17-5 when allowing 62 or fewer points (6-4 in 2002-03), 3-22 when giving up 63 or more points (1-7 in 2002-03). UMass has yielded 58.0 ppg in its victories during Lappas' tenure, 71.3 ppg in its losses.
In 11 of 18 outings this season, the Minutemen have held their opponent to 69 or fewer points, including nine games when they've limited their foe to 60 or less. For the year, Massachusetts ranks fifth in the Atlantic 10 and 74th nationally in scoring defense, yielding 65.2 ppg.
In its 11 losses, Massachusetts has yielded 70.2 ppg, while watching foes hit 45.5 percent of their field goals and 35.0 percent from three-point range. But, in their seven victories, the Minutemen have given up 57.4 ppg, while holding the opposition to 37.6 percent field goal shooting, including 24.0 percent from beyond the arc.
UMass has allowed 75.0 ppg in the season's first six Atlantic 10 outings, as its opponents have connected on 45.7 percent of their field goals, 32.4 percent of their three-point goals and 71.4 percent of their foul shots.
Massachusetts ranks third in the Atlantic 10 in blocked shots (4.00 bpg), but has recorded 54 of its 72 rejections over the last 10 games. The Minutemen, who snuffed a season-high 12 shots against Columbia and had 11 at George Washington, are 4-1 this season when swatting away six or more shots.
When the Minutemen held UConn to nine first-half points Dec. 10 in Hartford, it marked the fewest points allowed by UMass in a half since Trinity's eight-point effort on Feb. 5, 1958, and the lowest ever in a half for a Jim Calhoun-coached Husky team.
Massachusetts has won 30 of its last 31 games when holding its opponent to 49 or fewer points. On the flip side, the Minutemen have lost 29-straight games when they've allowed 80 or more points since scoring a 93-89 win at Duquesne, Jan. 20, 1996.
In Steve Lappas' tenure, UMass is 14-6 when holding its opponent to a field goal percentage mark below 38.0 percent, 6-21 when its foe has shot 38.0 percent or better. In three of six A-10 games this year, opponents have shot 50.0 percent or better from the floor, including Saint Joseph's, which hit 60.5 percent to record the best shooting game by a Minuteman opponent since Xavier's 60.5 percent effort during the 1996-97 campaign.
Massachusetts is 94-11 (.895) since the start of the 1996-97 season when leading after 35 minutes, including 6-1 this year and 16-2 under Steve Lappas.
When UMass overcame a 41-40 halftime deficit to win at George Washington last Saturday, it ended a 14-game losing streak when trailing at halftime. Oddly enough, the last time UMass overcame a halftime deficit to win came last year at St. Bonaventure, when it rallied from a 39-34 defict to score a 67-65 victory.
Over the last eight years, the Minutemen have produced 21 double-digit comeback to win efforts, including their performance against Rider when they overcame a 13-point first-half deficit for a 76-54 victory. Four of those 21 comebacks have come with Steve Lappas on the sideline.
The Rider win marked the largest UMass comeback victory ever under Steve Lappas (wiping out an 11-point come-from-behind win over Oregon last year) and the biggest for the program since rallying from 15 down in the first half to beat George Washington in Amherst, 76-60, Jan. 6, 2001.
Massachusetts has led at some point in 16 of 18 games this season, but three times (Rhode Island, UConn and Central Connecticut State) it held a double-digit advantage only to lose.
Six Minutemen are contributing 6.1 points or more per game, but only one, Jackie Rogers (13.4 ppg), owns a double-digit average. Nine different players have produced at least one double-figure scoring game this year.
Massachusetts' season scoring average has risen from 58.4 ppg to 62.8 ppg since Jeff Viggiano moved into the starting five for the Rider game. In Viggiano's 10 starts, the Minutemen have averaged 66.3 ppg and tallied 66 or more points seven times.
First-year scholarship Minutemen Marcus Cox, Alassane Kouyate, Michael Lasme, Gabe Lee and Jeff Viggiano have combined to average 26.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per outing. In UMass' seven victories, they've contributed 32.5 ppg and 15.4 rpg, compared to 21.6 points and 9.2 rebounds in its 11 setbacks.
In eight Mullins Center appearances, Massachusetts' first-year scholarship players have averaged 28.3 ppg and 12.5 rpg, but outside Amherst they've combined for 23.9 ppg and 10.6 rpg.
UMass is 4-6 this season when placing three or more players in double figures, including 3-1 when four players have recorded double-digit scoring games.
2002 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Anthony Anderson (Lynn, Mass.) tallied a career-high 25 points against North Carolina State, Jan. 2, but he has scored just 54 points (7.7 ppg) in seven games since then, hitting 34.6 percent from the field and 28.2 percent from three-point range.
Anderson shared A-10 Player of the Week honors with Saint Joseph's Jameer Nelson after his 25-point, nine-rebound, 40-minute performance against No. 24 North Carolina State. He scored 17 of UMass' final 24 points, and for the game was 5-for-10 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point range, and 11-of-13 at the line against the Wolfpack.
Anderson has seven double-figure scoring games to his credit this season, including three 20-point or better performances. In addition to his career-high 25-point outing against North Carolina State, he tallied 22 against FIU and 20 vs. Chaminade.
The Minutemen are 3-0 this season when Anderson scores 20 or more points, 5-2 when he records a double-figure scoring performance.
At George Washington, Anderson netted 10 points, six assists, three steals and two rebounds in 36 minutes.
Anderson had 34 assists and 12 turnovers over the season's first 10 games, but has 28 assists and 22 turnovers in his last eight starts.
Anderson has played 35 or more minutes 12 times this season, including four complete game efforts (UConn, N.C. State, Fordham, Rhode Island).
In UMass' seven victories this season, Anderson has averaged 14.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 4.0 apg, while shooting 54.7 percent (29-for-53) from the field, 54.1 percent (20-for-37) from three-point range and 83.9 percent (26-for-31) at the foul line. But, in the Minutemen's 11 losses, he's averaged 6.7 ppg and hit 27.7 percent from the field, including 22.1 percent from three-point range, 70.0 percent at the free throw line to go with 3.6 rpg and 3.1 apg.
Within the friendly confines of the Mullins Center, Anderson has averaged 11.3 ppg, while connecting on 45.8 percent of his field goals, 42.1 percent of his three-pointers and 80.0 percent of his free throws. Away from Amherst, though, he's averaging 8.8 ppg, but shooting 31.8 percent from the floor, including 28.4 percent from behind the three-point arc.
Anderson leads the team in minutes (633), three-point goals made (35) and attempted (105), defensive rebounds (67), free throw percentage (.805), assists (62) and steals (30), while ranking second in scoring (9.9 ppg), third in three-point percentage (.333) and rebounding (4.0 rpg).
In 47 career games, Anderson has 39 multiple-assist contests and has been credited with two or fewer turnovers 30 times. In 18 games this year, he has 62 assists and 30 steals.
After shooting just 45.3 percent at the free throw line a year ago, Anderson has hit a team-high 80.5 percent (33-for-41) from the stripe this season. In the game's final five minutes, he's shooting 82.1 percent at the line this year, compared to 59.3 percent in that same situation a year ago.
Anderson has 106 made career three-point goals, good for 10th on the all-time UMass list.
Anderson has grabbed six or more rebounds five times, including a career-high and team-best nine boards against both North Carolina State and Marshall. He has also handed out at least one assist in 17 of 19 games, three or more 12 times, and a high of nine against Chaminade.
Senior center Micah Brand (Middletown, N.Y.) sat out the GW game with a sprained right ankle but should be available for duty against the Flyers. He injured his ankle in practice Jan. 13, missed the Rhode Island game, then played 10 minutes against Xavier (no points or rebounds with a steal and a turnover) and 14 minutes at La Salle (four points, one rebound).
Brand has hit 85.0 percent (17-for-20) at the foul line over his last nine appearances to move his season mark from .286 to .704, which ranks third on the team.
Brand has recorded a team-high three double-doubles this season, which ranks eighth in the Atlantic 10. His three double-double efforts this year equal the number he recorded over his first 86 games as a Minuteman.
Brand's double-doubles this year have come against Lafayette (17 points/13 rebounds), UConn (12/13) and Central Connecticut State (11/10) to give him six for his career.
For the season, Brand ranks second on the team in three-point percentage (.357), rebounding (5.0 rpg) and offensive rebounds (28), third in blocked shots (13), steals (16, tie) and free throw percentage (.704), fourth in defensive rebounds (52), scoring (8.3 ppg) and field goal percentage (.443), fifth in minutes (384), sixth in assists (20).
Brand has seven double-digit scoring games to his credit this season, but the Minutemen are just 2-5 in those games. He's averaged 8.5 ppg and 4.0 rpg in UMass' wins, shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 91.7 percent at the line, but in its setbacks has averaged 8.1 points and 5.6 rebounds, while hitting 41.7 percent of his field goals and 53.3 percent of his foul shots.
A 2002-03 co-captain, Brand is 52nd on the school's all-time scoring chart with 763 career points, and needs three to overtake No. 51 Mike Mole (1959-62) on the list. He has 88 career blocks, which ranks 10th on the school's all-time chart, three behind No. 9 Duane Chase (1985-89).
As a sophomore, Brand scored a career-high 23 points against the Flyers in UD Arena. He was 7-of-10 from the field, 9-for-10 at the line, and grabbed six rebounds in 27 minutes of work.
Junior guard Marcus Cox (Bridgeport, Conn.) had six points, three assists and a steal in 17 minutes off the pine at George Washington.
Cox netted 11 points in 15 minutes off the bench at La Salle. It was his best scoring game since a collegiate career-high 14-point performance in the season-opening loss to Indiana.
Cox has averaged 8.3 ppg in his last three appearances, while shooting 57.1 percent (12-for-21) from the field.
Cox started the first nine games of the season, then came off the bench in his next five appearances before drawing a start against Xavier. He has come off the bench the past two games, and is expected to do so again tonight.
On the season, Cox ranks as UMass' seventh-leading scorer (4.9 ppg), and has contributed five or more points eight times (the Minutemen are 2-6 in those games).
Cox, who ranks fourth on the team in assists with 25, has dropped at least one dime in 13 of 17 appearances, with a high of five against his former teammates at Connecticut.
Second-year walk-on Paco Kotaridis (Athens, Greece), a junior guard, has played in seven games as a reserve (11 minutes of action). He tallied his only two points of the year on a pair of free throws against Boston College.
Freshman forward Alassane Kouyate (Bamako, Mali) has seen action in 10 games as a rookie, playing a total of 26 minutes. He is still looking for the first points of his collegiate career.
Kouyate played a career-high seven minutes off the bench against Rhode Island (but did not record any statistics), snagged a rebound in a six-minute outing against Columbia.
Junior forward Raheim Lamb (Boston, Mass.) has come off the bench the past 12 games after starting the season's first six contests. He had two points, five rebounds, a career-high four blocked shots, an assist and a steal in 26 minutes at George Washington.
Lamb tallied 10 points, his first double-figure scoring game since the season-opener against Indiana, off the bench against Rhode Island, with three rebounds and two steals.
Lamb has averaged 4.5 points over his last four appearances, while connecting on 69.2 percent (9-for-13) of his field goals.
Lamb is third on the team in offensive rebounds (26) and field goal percentage (.462), fourth in free throw percentage (.667), fifth in steals (14, tie) and eighth in scoring (3.9 ppg).
Lamb recorded his first career double-double, a 17-point, 12-rebound effort, against Indiana. His rebound total against IU was a career-high, while he just missed matching his career scoring best (18 vs. St. Bonaventure last year in Amherst).
Lamb has tallied five or more points five times this season.
Freshman guard Michael Lasme (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) continues to play with a broken bone in his right hand while nursing a sprained ankle. He was scheduled to have surgery on his right wrist Jan. 17 after injuring it in the Jan. 15 Rhode Island loss, but the surgery has been postponed until season's end.
At George Washington, Lasme tallied a career-high 24 points to go with five rebounds, three steals, a block and a steal in 36 minutes of work. He was 9-for-16 from the field against the Colonials, including 3-of-5 from three-point range.
Lasme's offensive output at GW was the highest for a UMass "true" freshman since Marcus Camby's 32-point effort in a second-round 1994 NCAA Tournament loss to Maryland.
Over his last seven appearances, Lasme has averaged 11.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 3.4 apg, while shooting 42.3 percent from three-point range (11-for-26).
Lasme just missed the school's first triple-double in some 30 seasons, as he tallied 13 points, and career-highs of nine rebounds and 10 assists against Columbia in 32 minutes of play. His 10 assists were the most by a UMass player since Charlton Clarke dropped 10 dimes at Fordham, Jan. 7, 1999.
In eight starts, Lasme has averaged 11.3 ppg, while producing four double-digit scoring efforts. He's hit 45.4 percent (31-for-69) from the floor and 37.9 percent (11-for-29) from the three-point line as a starter.
Lasme's 8.7 scoring average ranks third on the team, but against A-10 foes he's averaged 10.8 ppg to rank second on the team. The preseason Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team pick has scored five or more points in 15 of 18 appearances, including six double-digit outings (UMass is 4-2 in those games.
Lasme and fellow freshman teammate Jeff Viggiano have both recorded six double-figure scoring games this season, the most by a "true" UMass freshman since Marcus Camby's 14 double-digit performances en route to 1994 A-10 Freshman and Newcomer of the Year honors.
Lasme has hit at least one three-point goal in 10 of 18 appearances, two or more six times.
Lasme stands second on the team in assists (43), as well as both three-pointers made (20) and attempted (63), while ranking third in minutes played (476), scoring (8.7 ppg), defensive rebounds (53) and steals (16, tie), fourth in three-point percentage (.317) and rebounding (3.3, tie), and fifth in free throw percentage (.610).
Lasme has averaged 11.9 ppg and 3.7 rpg in UMass wins, while shooting 45.9 percent from the field. But, in its losses, he's averaged 6.7 ppg and 3.1 rpg, while hitting 32.9 percent from the floor.
Sophomore forward Gabe Lee (Camilla, Ga.) will make his fifth career start tonight in place of Micah Brand. He tallied career-highs of 15 points and nine rebounds in 25 minutes against George Washington, while blocking four shots.
Lee celebrated his 22nd birthday this past Monday.
In four starts, Lee has averaged 10.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. He's connected on 58.6 percent of his field goals as a starter and recorded a pair of double-figure scoring games.
Over the last 10 games, Lee has contributed 7.2 ppg and 3.8 rpg, while shooting 64.3 percent from the field. Twenty-two of his team-high 26 blocks have come in that stretch.
Lee has contributed five or more points 10 times as a rookie (UMass is 6-4 in those contests), including four double-figure performances. He has grabbed five or more rebounds six times (Massachusetts is 5-1 in those games).
Lee has hit 64.9 percent (24-for-37) from the field in eight Mullins Center appearances, while averaging 8.0 ppg and 4.1 rpg. Outside Amherst, though, he's averaged 4.5 points and 2.7 rebounds, and connected on 52.8 percent of his field goals.
Lee leads the Minutemen in blocked shots (26), while ranking second in field goal percentage (.589), fourth in offensive rebounds (24) and rebounding (3.3 rpg, tie), fifth in defensive (36), sixth in scoring (6.1 ppg) and minutes (374).
Lee recorded a career-high five blocked shots against both Rhode Island and Marshall, and had four against both Columbia and George Washington. He has had at least one rejection in 11 of 18 appearances, two or more five times.
In UMass wins, Lee has averaged 8.4 ppg and 5.9 rpg, while connecting on 71.9 percent of his field goals and 56.5 percent of his free throws. In losses, though, he's averaged 4.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg and shot 48.8 percent from the field.
Sophomore forward Brennan Martin (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) played six minutes off the bench against George Washington, but did not record a statistic. He's appeared in 13 games, drawing three starts on the year.
In his first career start, Martin responded with a career-high-tying nine points vs. Florida International, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in a career-long 30-minute stint.
Martin was 3-for-5 from beyond the arc against the Golden Panthers, matching his career-high in made triples for the second time this season (he also nailed three treys against Boston College). Over his last nine appearances, he has hit 42.1 percent (8-for-19) from three-point range.
Martin leads the UMass attack in three-point percentage (.393), ranks third in three-point goals made (11), fourth in three-point attempts (28) and fifth in field goal percentage (.419).
In 13 appearances this year, Martin has scored more points (37) than he did in 19 games (26) as a rookie.
Of Martin's 31 field goal attempts this season, 28 have been launched from bonus distance, while 11 of his 13 made fielders have come from beyond the arc. In his UMass career, 19 of his 22 made field goals have been bonus buckets.
Martin has provided five or more points four times on the season, matching his career-high of nine against both Boston College and FIU.
Freshman forward Arthur Onuora (Baldwin, N.Y.) has made four appearances as a rookie, playing two minutes against Columbia and scoring his first collegiate point on a free throw. He recorded a blocked shot against Boston College and also had a rebound vs. the Lions.
Onuora attended Long Island Lutheran High School, where he averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds and three assists as a senior. The former All-Long Island pick made the club as a walk-on just before the start of practice back in October.
Fifth-year senior forward and co-captain Jackie Rogers (Syracuse, N.Y.) has been Massachusetts' most-consistent player this season, producing a team-leading 13 double-figure scoring games, including nine in his last 11 starts (15.1 ppg).
Rogers is trying to become the first Minuteman since Lou Roe in 1994-95 to lead the team in scoring, rebounding and field goal shooting. Currently, he leads the squad in all three categories with marks of 13.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg and .590.
Rogers had just five points and two rebounds in 20 minutes at George Washington before fouling out for the fifth time this season.
Rogers had a career-high 23 points to go with a team-high six rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes of work against Xavier.
Rogers leads the Atlantic 10 Conference and ranks among the national leaders in field goal percentage (.590) overall, and in league games only he ranks second at 62.0 percent. He has connected on at least 50.0 percent of his field goals in 15 of 18 outings.
Rogers has averaged 14.6 ppg and 5.3 rpg over his last seven starts, while shooting 62.9 percent from the floor and 72.7 percent at the free throw line.
Rogers leads Massachusetts in scoring (13.4 ppg), offensive rebounds (46), rebounding (5.6 rpg) and field goal percentage (.590), while standing second in minutes played (492), defensive rebounds (55) and free throw percentage (.722), fourth in blocked shots (nine), fifth in steals (14, tie) and assists (21).
Rogers has averaged 14.8 ppg and hit 60.0 percent from the field in the Mullins Center, but away from Amherst he's connected on 58.1 percent of his fielders while averaging 12.3 ppg.
Rogers has recorded a team-best 13 double-figure scoring efforts in 18 starts this season. He has grabbed six or more rebounds 10 times, and is the only Minuteman to start in each of the team's 18 games.
Rogers netted 17 points and a season-best 10 rebounds against Rider en route to his first double-double of the season and the third of his UMass career. He tallied a then-career-high 20 points at Fordham.
Rogers was 2-for-6 from the foul line against Indiana in the season opener, but has hit 75.3 percent (55-for-73) the past 17 games to move his season mark to 72.2 percent which ranks second on the club. After hitting just 50.0 percent (25-for-50) at the line as a junior in 2000-01, Rogers has both made (57) and attempted (79) more free throws than any other Minuteman this season.
Rogers has racked up a team-high 69 fouls and has fouled out of a team-high five games.
Rogers has scored UMass' first points of the game 11 times in 18 starts. He's scored 132 (7.3 ppg) of his team-high 241 points in the first half this season.
Freshman forward Jeff Viggiano (Suffield, Conn.) has averaged 10.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 3.1 apg since moving into the starting lineup against Rider. He's hit 43.4 percent of his field goals, 23.1 percent of his three-point attempts and 55.6 percent of his free throws as a starter.
Viggiano had 13 points, three rebounds, two assists, a pair of blocks and a steal in 33 minutes at George Washington.
Viggiano earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week and co-Dinn Brothers UMass Athlete of the Week honors after averaging 15.0 ppg and 4.5 rpg in UMass' victories over Rider and Marshall. He shot 64.7 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three-point range for the week, playing 32.5 mpg with seven assists and just two turnovers.
Viggiano has recorded six double-figure scoring games in 10 starts, including a career-high 17 points in his first collegiate start against Rider. The Minutemen are 4-2 when he scores in twin-digits.
Viggiano has averaged 9.4 points in UMass' victories, shooting 50.0 percent in those seven games, but he's averaged 4.4 points and hit just 27.8 percent from the field in its losses.
In eight Mullins Center appearances, Viggiano has shot 48.1 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from three-point range, averaging 9.1 points. Outside Mullins, though, he's shooting 26.1 percent, including 7.7 percent from the three-point line, and scoring at a 4.1 ppg clip.
Viggiano has dished out at least two assists in nine of his 10 starts and 12 times overall. He has tallied five or more points eight times, all as a starter, and grabbed five or more boards three times.
Viggiano shot 50.0 percent (7-for-14) from three-point range in UMass' recent three-game win streak, but since then has drained just 2-of-25 shots from behind the arc.
Viggiano is shooting 60.0 percent (27-for-45) from two-point range for the year, but his 18.9 percent mark from three-point range drops his season percentage to .378.
Viggiano ranks second on the squad in steals (20) and blocked shots (14), third in three-point attempts (53) and assists (38), fourth in three-point goals made (10) and minutes played (411), fifth in scoring (6.3 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (3.0 rpg).
The Coaches: Massachusetts coach Steve Lappas (City College of New York, 1977) owns a 20-27 (.426) record in his second season on the Minuteman bench and a 250-199 (.557) mark in his 15th season as a Division I head coach.
Lappas, who last year became just the third UMass rookie coach to start his career 4-0, and the first since Johnny Orr in 1963-64, has enjoyed tremendous success in year two of his rebuilding projects in stops at both Villanova and Manhattan. In fact, he won an average of eight more games in his second year than he did in his rookie campaign at those institutions. At Villanova, Lappas won 20 games and the school's first NIT championship in 1993-94 after a debut season that produced an 8-19 record, while his second season at Manhattan saw the Jaspers post an 11-17 record after a 7-21 mark in his rookie campaign.
Introduced as UMass' 19th basketball coach on March 26, 2001, Lappas came to Amherst after nine highly-successful years at Villanova (1992-93 through 2000-01), where he guided the Wildcats to a 174-110 (.613) record and seven postseason appearances (four NCAA, three NIT). He ranks as the sixth-winningest coach in Big East history (and was the third-winningest among active league coaches when he left the Main Line) with 97 league victories.
At Manhattan (1988-89 through 1991-92), Lappas improved the Jaspers' win total every year, going from seven in 1988-89, to 11 the following year, 13 in his third season and 25 in his fourth and final campaign (1991-92) en route to a 56-62 (.475) four-year mark and one postseason (NIT in 1991-92) appearance.
Equally impressive as Lappas' on-court record is the classroom performance of his players, as all of his seniors at Massachusetts, Villanova and Manhattan have graduated. Prior to moving to Manhattan, he spent four seasons as an assistant to Rollie Massimino at Villanova, and was a member of the Wildcats' 1985 NCAA championship team. Lappas is 0-1 vs. Dayton.
His staff includes second-year assistant coaches John Leonard, Andrew Theokas and Chris Walker, as well as Director of Operations Paul Culpo and Administrative Assistant Carey Edwards.
The Flyers' Oliver Purnell (Old Dominion, 1975) stands 144-113 (.560) in his ninth season at Dayton, and a 245-188 (.566) in his 15th season as a head coach overall. After recording a 35-48 (.422) mark in this first three seasons at the helm, he's led Dayton to a 109-65 (.626) record since then. The third-winningest coach in Dayton history, behind Hall of Famers Don Donoher and Tom Blackburn, Purnell has taken the Flyers to postseason play four times (three NIT, one NCAA) and directed a like number of 20-game winners, feats he's accomplished in each of the past three years.
Before joining the UD staff, Purnell spent three seasons (1988-89 through 1990-91) at Radford and three at Old Dominion (1991-92 to 1993-94). He is 4-4 vs. UMass, 2-1 in UD Arena.
The Series: This is the ninth meeting in a series that is tied, 4-4, after Dayton's 83-68 victory last year in Amherst. UMass won three of the first four games in the series, but the Flyers have returned the favor claiming victories in three of the last four meetings, including two straight.
Dayton has captured two of the three games played on Blackburn Court, winning 69-67 in 1996-97 and 89-76 in 2000-2001, with those victories wrapped around the Minutemen's 59-57 overtime win in 1998-99.
Four of the eight meetings between the schools have been decided by five or fewer points, with each team claiming two nail-biting wins each.
Minutemen-Flyers in 2002: Dayton opened the game on a 13-0 run, then after UMass had pulled to with eight at 19-11 with 8:51 left in the first half, used a 17-0 run to take a 36-11 lead with 3:43 left in the opening half en route to an 83-68 victory over the Minutemen. The Minutemen trailed 43-21 at halftime, and were down by as many as 29 in the second half before a late run closed the gap.
Shannon Crooks led the UMass attack with 21 points, while Anthony Anderson had a then-career-high 20 points, but it wasn't enough, as the Flyers ended the Minutemen's three-game win streak. Five Flyers scored in double figures, led by Ramod Marshall's 16 points.
Dayton hit 58.5 percent from the field for the game, held a 44-22 advantage on the glass and blocked six shots. Massachusetts had just five turnovers (tying its own arena record) and shot 42.9 percent from three-point range (an arena-record 12 treys on 28 attempts), but it hit just 35.9 percent from the field for the game (including 21.4 percent in the opening half). The Minutemen outscored Dayton from the field, 58-53, but the Flyers were 30-of-43 at the free throw line while UMass was just 10-for-15.
George Washington Review: Massachusetts closed the game on a 17-5 run to score a 75-70 victory at George Washington, and snap its four-game losing streak. The Minutemen, who trailed by as many as eight in the second half, were down 65-58 with 9:05 to go before making their move as they limited the hometown Colonials to just one field goal over the game's final nine minutes.
Michael Lasme paced the UMass attack with a career-high 24 points, while Gabe Lee recorded career-highs of 15 points and nine rebounds, Jeff Viggiano added 13 points and Anthony Anderson tallied 10. The Minutemen beat the Colonials for the sixth straight time, and won on back-to-back trips to Washington, D.C., for the first time ever, despite being outrebounded 41-34 and turning the ball over 23 times.
The Baker's Dozen: Over the last 13-plus seasons, Massachusetts owns a 289-152 (.655) overall record, an average of 21.7 wins per season. The Minutemen have made 10 postseason appearances over that stretch, while recording seven 20-win campaigns, 12 winning conference records and 11 .500 or better campaigns in that stretch.
After posting no winning campaigns, just two .500 records and a 53-133 (.285) record in its first 13 seasons in the A-10, UMass has gone 145-71 (.671) in regular-season league play over the last 13-plus campaigns en route to 10 conference crowns (five regular season, five tournament). Eight times over that stretch, the Minutemen have won at least 11 league games.
In the Atlantic 10, no program that has called the league home in each of the last 13-plus years has won more games overall than UMass (289). Xavier, though, does have 299 victories to its credit over that time frame, but the Musketeers didn't join the A-10 until the 1995-96 campaign.
Looking Ahead to 2003-04: Art Bowers, a 6-4, 200-pound shooting guard from St. Benedict's (N.J.) Prep School, signed a National Letter of Intent during the 2002 early-signing period to play for the Minutemen next season.
As a junior for coach Danny Hurley, Bowers averaged 16 points en route to first team All-State honors. He led St. Benedict's to a 22-7 record and the state championship.
Ranked as the nation's 32nd-best prep prospect by ESPN.com and the 44th-best by PrepStars, he earned All-Tournament honors at the PowerAid and Slam Dunk to the Beach events as a junior. Bowers is also a two-time Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions Most Valuable Player.
Bowers, who selected UMass over Wake Forest, Rutgers, De Paul and Pittsburgh, outscored 2002 Ohio high school Player of the Year and Sports Illustrated coverboy Lebron James, 21-18, in a head-to-head match-up last season, but James' St. Vincent-St. Mary's team netted a 67-60 victory.
In addition to Bowers and Stephen Briggs, top 100 recruit Rashaun Freeman (Schnectady, N.Y.), who signed in 2001, is attending Massachusetts this season and will be eligible next year.
Fast Breaks: At George Washington (Minutemen, 75-70)--UMass used 17-5 run to close game and snap four game losing streak, as Michael Lasme netted a career-best 24 points and Gabe Lee recorded career-highs of 15 points and nine rebounds; At La Salle (Explorers, 78-57)--La Salle rallied from early six-point deficit to beat UMass for third time in 12 all-time meetings; Xavier (Musketeers, 86-73)--No. 23 Xavier never trailed (there was one tie, at 4-4) in winning at the Mullins Center for the second time in four tries despite a career-high 23 points from Jackie Rogers and then-career-best 13 points from Lee; Rhode Island (Rams, 60-53)--Rhode Island overcame a 14-point first-half deficit to win in Amherst for the first time since the 1998-99 season; At Saint Joseph's (Hawks, 76-47)--Saint Joseph's records best shooting game against UMass since the 1996-97 campaign, beat the Minutemen for the third consecutive time; Columbia (Minutemen, 66-47)--Lasme came up a rebound short of the school's first triple-double in some 30 seasons, as he scored 13 points and handed out a career-high 10 assists to go with a career-high-tying nine rebounds; At Fordham (Rams, 80-67)--In A-10 opener for both teams, UMass never led in losing at Rose Hill Gymnasium for the second consecutive season; N.C. State (Minutemen, 68-56)--Anthony Anderson scored a career-high 25 points as UMass knocked off No. 24 (USA Today/ESPN coaches poll) Wolfpack; Marshall (Minutemen, 81-58)--For first time since 1996-97 season, Minutemen started a pair of "true" freshmen in Michael Lasme and Jeff Viggiano, as UMass tallied a season-high 81 points and recorded its best shooting game (57.4 percent) since the 1999-2000 season en route to its largest margin of victory (23 points) under Steve Lappas; Rider (Minutemen, 76-54)--Massachusetts overcame a 13-point first-half deficit to beat visiting Broncs, as Viggiano made his first career start a memorable one with a career-high 17 points, while Rogers turned in a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double. The 13-point comeback win was largest ever for Lappas-coached UMass squad; Lafayette (Leopards, 54-52)--UMass twice came back from double-digit deficits and held 52-48 lead with 2:14 left, but the Leopards scored game's final six points to snap Minutemen's six-game win streak at Springfield Civic Center; Florida International (Minutemen, 67-62)--The Minutemen ended a three-game losing streak as Anthony Anderson netted a then-career-high 22 points, while Lee had then career-best 12 points and career-high eight rebounds; At Connecticut (Huskies, 59-48)--The No. 9 (both polls) Huskies overcame a 25-point second-half deficit to hand UMass its 12th straight loss in the series. The Minutemen held 30-9 halftime lead, yielded fewest points in a half since the 1957-58 season, and extended lead to 25 at 34-9 with 18 minutes to play, but the Huskies responded with 29-2 run, which included a 22-0 spurt, to take control; Boston College (Eagles, 80-62)--Minutemen raced to 7-0 lead in game's first 90 seconds and hit 9-of-12 from the field in the early going, but Boston College broke a 24-all tie with a dunk by Troy Bell and never trailed again in beating UMass for second straight time in the Mullins Center and the fourth consecutive time overall. Crowd of 6,392 was largest for home opener since 7,536 were on hand for the Dec. 2, 1997 opener against College of Charleston; Central Connecticut State (Blue Devils, 46-45)--Blue Devils overcame a 15-point second half deficit to hand Minutemen their third loss in four games. CCSU closed the game on a 16-5 run to erase UMass' 40-30 advantage in the game's final 7:44, as loss ended UMass' 29-game win streak when holding an opponent to 49 or fewer points, dating to 1986-87 campaign; Chaminade (Minutemen, 69-55)--UMass picked up first win behind Anderson's 20 points and career-best nine assists; Utah (Utes, 69-53)--In first-ever meeting between the schools, Utah shot 58.5 percent from the field for the game (68.8 percent in the second half) en route to the win, as UMass started the season 0-2 for the first time since the 1982-83 campaign (0-4); Indiana (Hoosiers, 84-71)--Four Minutemen scored in double figures, led by Raheim Lamb's first career double-double, a 17-point, career-high 12-rebound effort, but 2002 NCAA runner-up Indiana took first step toward its Maui title by placing all five starters in double figures.
From Here: The Minutemen return home for the first time in two weeks to host A-10 East Division rival Fordham in a 2 p.m. game, Saturday, Feb. 1, in the Mullins Center, then play at Tennessee a week from tonight.
Dayton begins a three-game road swing on Saturday with a 4 p.m. contest at La Salle.
