University of Massachusets Athletics
Minutemen Travel To Saint Bonaventure
January 12, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2004
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Game Day Quick Facts
The Teams: Massachusetts (5-8, 0-2 A-10) vs. Saint Bonaventure (4-9, 0-2 A-10)
Date: January 14, 2004
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Reilly Center (6,000), Saint Bonaventure, N.Y.
UMass Radio Network: Bob Behler, play-by-play; Jack Leaman, color; WRNX 100.9 FM, Holyoke, flagship
Saint Bonaventure Radio Network: Gary Nease, play-by-play; John Watson, color; WHDL 1450 AM, Olean, flagship
Series Record: Massachusetts leads, 31-16
Last Meeting: Massachusetts 82, Saint Bonaventure 76 (February 15, 2003, Saint Bonaventure, N.Y.)
PROBABLE UMASS STARTERS Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. F 1 Rashaun Freeman 6-9 255 So. F 22 Jeff Viggiano 6-6 215 So. C 2 Gabe Lee 6-9 210 Jr. G 11 Maurice Maxwell 6-5 175 Fr. G 12 Anthony Anderson 5-11 170 Sr.
THE SERIES WITH SAINT BONAVENTURE: This will be the 47th meeting between UMass and St. Bonaventure, with the Minutemen holding a 31-16 lead in the all-time series. UMass won last year's only meeting between the schools 82-76 at Saint Bonaventure, but the Bonnies have won seven of the last 11 contests. For games played at the Reilly Center, UMass holds a 12-10 advantage with two straight victories. In addition, Minuteman head coach Steve Lappas owns a 2-1 career mark against the Bonnies, with a perfect 2-0 record at the Reilly Center.
FREEMAN HAS IMPRESSIVE START TO SEASON: Sophomore forward Rashaun Freeman (Schenectady, N.Y.) has had some outstanding games to open his collegiate career, and has already been named Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week four times this season (on Nov. 23, Nov. 30, Dec. 28 and Jan. 11) and Dinn Brothers UMass Athlete of the Week once (Dec. 29). In UMass' last game against George Washington he posted his fifth double-double of the season, totaling 19 points and 10 rebounds, while hitting nine of 11 free throw attempts. Against La Salle, Freeman scored 12 points on five of eight shooting with six rebounds, while at Connecticut, he scored 15 points and pulled down three boards. Freeman also had big games against Albany (22 points on 10 of 13 shooting, 10 rebounds), Maine (career-high 23 points on nine of 12 shooting from the floor, six rebounds, three steals), Marshall (18 points, 10 rebounds, three steals), Central Connecticut (15 points, 13 boards), Boston College (11 points, seven rebounds), Hartford (team-high 19 points and nine rebounds, while hitting eight of 11 field goals), Texas Tech (team-high 17 points on eight of 13 shooting) and Saint Francis (11 points and 14 rebounds). Through 12 games this year, Freeman is averaging a team-best 14.4 points and 7.8 rebounds, while hitting 53.1 percent of his shots. Freeman came to UMass from Schenectady High School, where he averaged 17.8 points per game during his senior season in 2001-2002. He was named Player of the Year by the Albany Times Union as a senior, in addition to earning All-State honors and leading his team to the New York Section II Class A title.
LEE A FORCE IN THE MIDDLE: Junior center Gabe Lee (Camilla, Ga.) has become a solid presence in the lane for the Minutemen. In UMass' last game against George Washington, Lee totaled 11 points, four rebounds and three blocked shots. Previously against La Salle, he had 10 points on four of six shooting, with team highs of eight rebounds and three blocks. Earlier in the year against Tennessee, Lee scored a career-high 23 points, including a seven of 10 performance at the free throw line. He also had 10 rebounds against the Volunteers, good for his first double-double of the season, and blocked four shots. Lee also turned in some big performances against Albany (nine points, seven rebounds), Central Connecticut (12 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two assists), Boston College (nine points, six rebounds and three blocks, while hitting a three-point field goal in the final minute of play to force overtime), Hartford (16 points, nine rebounds, seven blocked shots, two steals) and Saint Francis (11 rebounds, seven blocked shots, eight points). Through 12 games on the season, Lee is now averaging 9.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per contest. As a rookie in 2002-2003, Lee averaged 5.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
ANDERSON STARTS SEASON STRONG: Senior guard Anthony Anderson (Lynn, Mass.) has been the leader on the court for a young UMass team so far this season. In the La Salle game, Anderson scored a team-best 20 points, to go along with three rebounds and three steals. Previously against Tennessee, he totaled 15 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals, while hitting four of eight three-point attempts. Earlier this season, Anderson was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week and Dinn Brothers UMass Athlete of the Week on Dec. 7, after a pair of outstanding performances against Boston College (20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals) and Vermont (career-best 29 points, while hitting nine of 13 shots from the floor and seven of nine from three-point range). Some of his other big games this season have come against Connecticut (15 points, four rebounds), Albany (career-high nine assists, six points, two rebounds), Marshall (17 points, six assists, two rebounds, two steals), Central Connecticut (nine points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals) and Saint Francis (21 points, five rebounds, six assists). Through 13 games so far this year, Anderson is averaging 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists, while hitting 40.2 percent from three-point range and posting a 1.53:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
MAXWELL MAKING PRESENCE FELT: Freshman guard Maurice Maxwell (Philadelphia, Pa.) has turned into a key perimeter player for the Minutemen, while seeing action both as a starter and off the bench. In the La Salle game, Maxwell totaled eight points, four rebounds and a team-best four assists. Previously against Tennessee, he recorded 12 points, four assists and three steals, while hitting three of five attempts from three-point range. Earlier in the season against Marshall, Maxwell scored a career-high 19 points on nine of 14 shooting, and was named Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week and Dinn Brothers UMass Athlete of the Week. He also recorded a career-best five steals against Marshall, with three assists, a rebound and a block. Maxwell had some other big games against Albany (10 points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal), Vermont (14 points on five of seven shooting) and Boston College (10 points, four assists, three rebounds). For the season, he is now averaging 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Maxwell came to UMass from Philadelphia (Pa.) Lutheran Christian Academy, where he averaged 26 points and 12 assists last year, while leading his team to a 20-5 overall record.
GEORGE WASHINGTON RECAP: Forward Tamal Forchion scored a season-high 17 points on seven of 10 shooting, to lead George Washington to a 76-61 victory over UMass at the Mullins Center on Jan. 10, 2004. The Colonials opened the game on fire, jumping out to a 12-0 lead in the first four minutes of play. The Minutemen were able to cut the deficit to seven points, before an 8-2 George Washington run brought the lead back up to eight. The Colonials would later outscore UMass 18-5 over the final six minutes of the first half, to take a 24-point lead into the locker room. The Minutemen fought back at the start of the second half, using a 17-4 run to cut the lead down to 11 points. But that would be as close as UMass would get, as George Washington posted a 15-point victory. Forward Rashaun Freeman led the Minutemen with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while hitting nine of 11 free throw attempts. Center Gabe Lee and guard Art Bowers added 11 points each for UMass. George Washington had four players score in double figures, including forward Mike Hall (16 points), forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu (14 points) and guard T.J. Thompson (10 points).
BOWERS HAVING A FINE ROOKIE CAMPAIGN: Freshman guard Art Bowers (Wilmington, Del.) has returned to his role as one of the top scorers for the Minutemen, after missing the Central Connecticut and Marshall games due to injury. In UMass' last game against George Washington, he scored 11 points while hitting three of five attempts from three-point range. Against La Salle, Bowers came off the bench to total nine points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists. Previously in the victory over Albany, he recorded 13 points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals. Bowers, who has been in the starting lineup at shooting guard for seven games this season, turned in some other outstanding performances against Vermont (totaling a career-high 16 points and a team-best seven rebounds, while hitting seven of 11 shots from the floor) and Saint Francis (totaling 14 points while hitting five of eight shots from the field, including two of three from three-point range). In 11 games played this season, he is averaging 7.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Bowers came to UMass from St. Benedict's (N.J.) Prep School, where he averaged 18 points and six rebounds per game last season. He was a two-time All-State selection, and was ranked among the top 50 high school seniors in 2002-2003 by both ESPN.com and PrepStars.
BLOCK PARTY: Throughout the 2003-2004 season, the Minutemen have been the top team in the Atlantic 10 Conference, and among the best in the nation, at blocking shots. UMass currently has 82 blocks though 13 games played, good for an average of 6.3 blocks per contest. The Minutemen are blocking at least two more shots per game than every other school in the Atlantic 10, as Saint Joseph's currently ranks second with an average of 4.3 blocks. In the latest NCAA statistics, through games of January 5, UMass stood eighth in the nation with 6.6 blocks per game. Leading the way for the Minutemen is junior center Gabe Lee, with an average of 3.4 blocks per game. He currently ranks first in the league and 10th in the nation, while blocking more shots alone than six Atlantic 10 teams. Freshman forward Stephane Lasme (Libreville, Gabon) has also come up big for UMass, totaling 18 blocks to rank fifth in the Atlantic 10 with an average of 1.4 blocks per game.
THE LAST TIME: In the last meeting between the Minutemen and the Bonnies, forward Jackie Rogers scored a career-high 26 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead UMass to an 82-76 victory at the Reilly Center on Feb. 15 2003. The game was close for the majority of the first half, with the Bonnies holding a 26-24 lead at the 7:30 mark. But Saint Bonaventure then went on a 9-0 run to take an 11-point advantage, and increased its lead to as much as 13 points. UMass closed the first half on a 5-0 run of its own, to be down by only eight at the break. The Minutemen stayed hot at the start of the second half, using a 9-3 run to make it a two-point game. UMass then claimed its first lead since the opening minutes of play on a three pointer by forward Brennan Martin with 14:49 remaining. The score stayed close for several minutes, during a span which featured two ties and nine lead changes. With Saint Bonaventure up 61-60 at the 7:25 mark, guard Michael Lasme hit a free throw and then Rogers scored on a put back to give the Minutemen the lead for good. UMass led by only three points with three minutes to go, but the Bonnies would make only one more field goal the rest of the way. The Minutemen hit eight of 10 free throws in the final minute to hold on for the win. Guard Marques Green led Saint Bonaventure with 25 points, including the Bonnies' first 14 points of the game.
HEAD COACH Steve Lappas: Now in his third season as the head coach of the Minutemen, Steve Lappas has an overall record of 29-42 while at UMass. He owns a career mark of 259-214 in 16 seasons as a head coach, including nine years at Villanova (174-110) and four seasons at Manhattan (56-62). A 1977 graduate of the City College of New York, Lappas has led his teams to four NCAA Tournament appearances (with Villanova in 1994-1995, 1995-1996, 1996-1997 and 1998-1999) and four trips to the National Invitation Tournament (Manhattan in 1991-1992 and Villanova in 1993-1994, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001). In addition, his 1993-1994 Villanova team claimed the NIT championship. Lappas currently ranks 11th all-time in career coaching victories at UMass, needing only 11 more wins to move into eighth place.
VIGGIANO BACK IN STARTING LINEUP: Sophomore forward Jeff Viggiano (Suffield, Conn.), who has returned to the starting lineup for the Minutemen this season, had the top game of his career against No. 1-ranked Connecticut. Viggiano scored a career-best 22 points on nine of 12 shooting against the Huskies, while also totaling four rebounds, two assists and two steals. In the Tennessee game, he came back with eight points, five rebounds and two blocks. In 13 games so far this year, including 11 starts, Viggiano has averaged 8.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest. Last year, Viggiano averaged 7.0 point and 2.9 rebounds per game, while starting 21 out of 29 games. He became one of 16 true freshmen in UMass history to start at least 20 games (and the first since Tony Barbee and Harper Williams each made 26 starts in 1989-1990), and drew 21 straight starts to end the year. Viggiano recorded nine double-digit scoring games in 2002-2003, the most for a true UMass freshman since Marcus Camby recorded 14 such performances in 1993-1994.
ANDERSON BECOMING AN IRON MAN: Senior guard Anthony Anderson has become a familiar sight on the hard wood, as he recently had a streak of 157 straight minutes on the court. Anderson played all 20 minutes in the second half against Hartford, and then turned in complete game efforts against Vermont (40 minutes), Boston College (45 minutes) and Central Connecticut (40 minutes). His streak ended when he took a brief eight second rest in the first half of the Marshall game. For the season, Anderson has now played 481 out of a possible 525 minutes, good for an average of 37.0 minutes per game. This comes as nothing new to Anderson, who averaged 36.1 minutes per game last season, and 34.0 minutes per contest in 2001-2002.
UMASS TO RETIRE AL SKINNER'S JERSEY: UMass interim athletic director Thorr Bjorn has announced that the school will retire the No. 30 jersey of former star Al Skinner during the Rhode Island game on Feb. 18, 2004. Currently the head coach at Boston College, Skinner was a three-time first team All-Yankee Conference selection at UMass from 1971-1974, while leading the team to a pair of Yankee Conference titles. Following his UMass career, Skinner went on play professionally in both the ABA and NBA, with the New York Nets, Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers. He began his collegiate coaching career at the University of Rhode Island, before taking over at Boston College in 1997. Skinner will become only the fourth player in UMass men's basketball history to have his jersey number retired. The previous three players to have their jersey retired are George "Trigger" Burke (No. 32, 1954-1956), Julius Erving (No. 32, 1969-1971) and Lou Roe (No. 15, 1991-1995).
MULLINS MAGIC: UMass is currently in its 12th season of play at the William D. Mullins Memorial Center, posting an all-time record of 97-39 in the building. The Minutemen stand 5-4 at the Mullins Center so far this season, and recently had four consecutive victories. UMass was 8-6 in the Mullins Center last year, and has not had a losing record at home since moving into the new arena in 1992-1993. In fact, UMass has gone 21 straight seasons without having a losing record on its home court. The Minutemen also own a 59-23 all-time record in regular season Atlantic 10 Conference games at the Mullins Center, and a 3-1 mark in Atlantic 10 Tournament contests.
DIALING LONG DISTANCE: The three-point shot has become an important part of the UMass offense since Steve Lappas began his tenure as head coach. The 2001-2002 Minutemen set school records for both three-point field goals made (204) and three-point field goals attempted (587) during Lappas' first season. Last year, UMass sank 164 three-pointers (fourth-most in school history), while attempting 544 shots from beyond the arc (second-most in school history). In 13 games so far this season, the Minutemen stand 78 of 235 from three-point range (33.2 percent), including a sizzling 12 of 19 performance (63.2 percent) in the victory over Vermont. Massachusetts has made at least one three-point goal in 164 straight games.
ANDERSON CLIMBS CAREER CHARTS: With his strong start to the 2003-2004 season, senior guard Anthony Anderson continues his assault on the all-time school records for three-point shooting. He currently stands fourth on the school's all-time charts for three-pointers made (184) and three-point attempts (469), while ranking fifth in three-point percentage (.392). On track to earn a fourth season of competition by graduating by the summer of 2004, Anderson will have a chance to break Monty Mack's school record for three-pointers made (331) and attempted (910), which were set from 1997-2001. Anderson, who also needs just 210 points to become the school's 36th career 1,000-point scorer, already owns two of the top 10 places on the school's single-season chart for three-point goals made.
LEE MOVES UP CAREER BLOCKED SHOT LIST: With his outstanding start to the 2003-2004 season on the defensive end of the court, junior center Gabe Lee has already cracked the UMass career top 10 in blocked shots. Despite being in only his second season of play with with Minutemen, Lee has already blocked 90 shots in his career, and is tied with Micah Brand (90 blocks / 1999-2003) for 10th place on the UMass career chart. As a rookie in 2002-2003, Lee totaled 46 blocks, while in just 13 games so far this season, he has 44 blocks. With 10 more blocks, he can become only the eighth player in school history with 100 career blocked shots.
UMASS ON THE RADIO: All University of Massachusetts basketball games can be heard live on the UMass Basketball Radio Network, with WRNX 100.9 FM (Holyoke) serving as the flagship station. Bob Behler is in his fifth season as the play-by-play announcer, while former UMass head coach Jack Leaman is in his 10th year as color analyst. Here is the list of this week's affiliates on the UMass Basketball Radio Network: WCAP 980 AM (Lowell / Boston) and WATD 95.9 FM (Marshfield / Boston). In addition, WMUA 91.1 FM, the UMass student station, will carry a number of Minuteman basketball games during the 2003-2004 season.
THE COORS LIGHT COACH'S SHOW: Head coach Steve Lappas' weekly radio show, "The Coors Light Coach's Show with Steve Lappas," airs from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on WRNX 100.9 FM (Holyoke). The show, hosted by Bob Behler, runs throughout the season, and will next air on Thursday, Jan. 22. The show is taped at 11:45 a.m. from the Blue Wall Pub in Amherst, and is open to the general public.
THE UMASS BASKETBALL SHOW: Head coach Steve Lappas' weekly television show, "The UMass Basketball Show with Steve Lappas presented by Coca-Cola," airs on WGGB Channel 40 (ABC, Springfield) on Sundays at 11:30 p.m. The show will also be shown by WGGB on Sunday afternoons at 12:30 p.m. on weekends when UMass does not play a Sunday game, and on WLVI Channel 56 (Boston) on Sundays at 11:55 p.m.
MINUTEMEN ON TELEVISION: UMass will once again make a number of appearances on live television during the 2003-2004 regular season. Televised games so far this season have come at Texas Tech (Nov. 21 on ESPN2), at Boston College (Dec. 6 on New England Sports Network), against Marshall (Dec. 20 on ESPN Regional), against Tennessee (Jan. 3 on ESPN) and against La Salle (Jan. 7 on CN8). The Minutemen will play on ESPN2 one more time, on on Jan. 24 against Temple. UMass will also have four games carried as part of the Atlantic 10 Television Network package, against Duquesne (Jan. 18), Dayton (Feb. 8), Xavier (Feb. 14) and Richmond (Mar. 6). In addition, the Mar. 3 contest at Temple will be shown on CN8. So far this season, the Minutemen stand 1-4 in games shown on live television.
MINUTEMEN BRING IN PRESEASON HONORS: Senior guard Anthony Anderson was named a preseason third team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection by the league's coaches and media, announced during Atlantic 10 Media Day on Nov. 6. In addition, freshman guards Art Bowers and Maurice Maxwell were both selected to the preseason Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team. Bowers had previously been honored by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, which selected him as the preseason Atlantic 10 Newcomer of the Year.
UMASS PICKED FOURTH IN A-10 EAST: In the Atlantic 10 Conference's preseason poll, conducted among the league's coaches and media, the Minutemen were picked to finish in fourth place in the East Division. Saint Joseph's placed first in the poll and collected all 34 first place votes, with Temple coming in second and Rhode Island third. Following the Minutemen, Saint Bonaventure was ranked fifth and Fordham sixth. Xavier was picked to win the West Division with 17 of 34 first place votes, followed by Dayton (second, 17 first place votes), Richmond (third), La Salle (fourth), George Washington (fifth) and Duquesne (sixth).
ABOUT THE BONNIES: Saint Bonaventure enters the game with an overall record of 4-9 on the season, including an 0-2 mark against Atlantic 10 Conference foes. The Bonnies are currently on a five-game losing streak, but all five of those games came away from home, and four of them were decided by seven points or less. Saint Bonaventure does have a 4-1 record this season in games played at the Reilly Center, with the lone loss coming against Canisius on Dec. 6. Senior guard Marques Green leads the team with an average of 24.1 points per game, and leads the Atlantic 10 Conference with 47 three pointers made in 124 attempts (37.9 percent). In addition, Green leads the Bonnies with 64 assists and 53 steals. Sophomore forward Patrick Lottin (12.9 ppg) and junior forward Maurice Young (12.6 ppg) are also scoring in double figures, while sophomore guard Adham Smith (6.4 rpg) leads the team in rebounding.
SAINT BONAVENTURE HEAD COACH ANTHONY SOLOMON: In his first season with the Bonnies, Anthony Solomon has begun his career as a collegiate head coach with a 4-9 record. Prior to taking over at Saint Bonaventure before this season, Solomon served as an assistant coach for 15 seasons at Notre Dame (2000-2003), Clemson (1998-2000), Virginia (1994-1998), Richmond (1993-1994), Manhattan (1992-1993), Bowling Green (1989-1992) and Delaware (1988-1989). As an assistant, he helped his teams to six NCAA tournament appearances and six 20-win campaigns. A 1987 graduate of the University of Virginia, Solomon was a four-year letterwinner for the Cavaliers, helping the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances and one trip to the National Invitation Tournament.
MINUTEMATTERS: Senior guard Marcus Cox (Bridgeport, Conn.) and sophomore forward Alassane Kouyate (Bamako, Mali) are both expected to miss the entire 2003-2004 season due to injury. Kouyate is eligible to redshirt and will have three years of collegiate eligibility remaining, while Cox's college career is now over ... With the 80-58 victory over Saint Francis (N.Y.), UMass won its season opener for the ninth time in the last 11 years, while moving its all-time record in season openers to 62-33 ... Massachusetts has made at least one three-point field goal in 163 consecutive games and in 538 of 545 games it has played since the arc was added to the college game in 1986-1987 ... UMass has won 27 of its last 29 games when shooting 50.0 percent or better from the field, including this year's 3-0 mark and a 9-2 record in Steve Lappas' tenure in Amherst.
