University of Massachusets Athletics
You Can Be The Millionth Fan On Sunday At Mullins
December 15, 2004 | Men's Basketball
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MASSACHUSETTS (3-3) vs. DAVIDSON (4-4)
Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004 • 2 p.m.
Mullins Center (9,493)
Amherst, Mass.
UMass Radio Network
Millionth Fan At Mullins On Sunday
• UMass will welcome its 1,000,000th fan to a men's basketball game at the Mullins Center, Sunday afternoon in the game against Davidson as 998,320 have come through the turnstiles following the first four games this season (1,680 more fans are needed and the mark is certain to be passed Sunday afternoon).
• The 1,000,000th fan will receive two season tickets to the 2005-06 season and two plane tickets courtesy USAir and hotel accommodations to the 2005 Atlantic 10 Tournament in Cincinnati along with tickets to the games.
• Coming off the biggest win in the Steve Lappas era of basketball at UMass -- as the Minutemen knocked off defending national champion UConn, 61-59 on Dec. 9, the Minutemen look to ride the wave of success at home. UMass hosts Davidson on Sunday in a game that begins a run of six home games in a row. The game can be heard live on the UMass Radio Network and via umassathletics.com.
• Sunday's game begins a string of six home games in a row, as UMass will not be on the road again until Jan. 12 at Saint Joseph's. The Minutemen host Rider on Dec. 23; Boston University on Dec. 28; Boston College on Jan. 2; open the A-10 schedule against Temple on Jan. 5 and host Xavier on Jan. 8 before two in a row on the road.
• UMass shocked defending national champion No. 7/6 UConn on Dec. 9 with a stirring 61-59 win over the Huskies. Before a national audience on ESPN2 and the largest crowd in four years at the Mullins Center, sophomore Rashaun Freeman scored the game-winning layup with 4.3 seconds left on the clock. After Denham Brown's three-point field goal came up short the Mullins Center crowd went wild storming the court. The game was featured as the lead on SportsCenter.
• The win over UConn came in the first instance that a defending national champion had visited Amherst, and the Mullins Center.
• UMass is now 3-1 all-time against defending national champions, as the Minutemen posted win in back-to-back seasons in their first ever meetings with the NCAA trophy holders. UMass knocked off North Carolina, 91-86, in overtime on Nov. 24, 1993 as part of the Preseason NIT at Madison Square Garden. One year later, UMass thumped Arkansas, 104-80, on Nov. 25, 1994 in the Tip-Off Classic at the Springfield Civic Center. UMass' last game against a champ came on Nov. 22, 1999, as the Minutemen lost to UConn at Gampel Pavilion, 79-65, on Nov. 22, 1999.
• The crowd of 9,037 was the largest in four seasons and the biggest since the last sellout at the Mullins Center, when 9,493 came to the UMass-Temple game on Feb. 17, 2001.
• UMass picked its first win over a ranked team since March 9, 2001 when they beat No. 21 Saint Joseph's, 75-70 in the A-10 Tournament.
• It was UMass' first win over a top-10 team since a 78-61 win over No. 10 Maryland on Feb. 15, 1997.
• It was UMass' first win over UConn since Dec. 15, 1983, with UMass winning 67-65 in overtime at the Cage.
• UMass was the first team from New England outside of the Big East to beat UConn since 1986.
• UMass finished its most difficult three-game stretch of the season, having played at perennial NCAA team Gonzaga in Seattle last Saturday (losing, 68-57), beating No. 7/6 UConn (61-59) before falling at ACC newcomer Miami (Fla.) on last Sunday, 80-53, in Coral Gables. UMass's two trips last week sandwiched around the UConn game, covered more than 8,900 miles, hitting two of the furthest corners of the country. The games in Seattle and Miami were UMass' only two road games prior to Jan. 12, but happened just eight days apart and covered nearly 4,500 miles each way.
• UMass started the year 2-0 for just the second time since the Final Four year of 1995-96 after beating Yale, 70-56, on Nov. 27, at the Mullins Center. The only other time in the last nine years UMass started 2-0 was 2001-02, in Steve Lappas' first year in Amherst.
• Senior guard Anthony Anderson is now 29th in career scoring at UMass (1,061), he also handed out three assists vs. UConn and in now ninth in career assists with 327. He passed current Boston College coach Al Skinner (324) in the Gonzaga game. Next on the list for Anderson to pass is current Louisville coach Rick Pitino, who had 329 assists in his UMass career from 1973-74.
DAVIDSON CAPSULE
• Davidson comes into the game with a 4-4 record, prior to their game against the University of South on Friday in North Carolina. The Wildcats opened the year with a huge win at Big XII foe Missouri, 84-81 as Matt McKillop scored a 25 points to upset the Tigers. Davidson then dropped a hard-fought game at Duke, 74-61. The Wildcats picked up their first win against Maine-Farmington (103-33) on Nov. 24 before falling in back-to-back games at Saint Joseph's (76-61) on Nov. 27 and against Georgetown (76-51) on Nov. 30. The Wildcats beat Georgia Southern (84-76) on Dec. 3 and Brandeis (69-49) on Dec. 11 sandwiched around a loss to city rival Charlotte (87-68) on Dec. 8.
• Brendan Winters leads the team in scoring with 16.4 ppg average. Ian Johnson is scoring 12.4 per game while Logan Kosmalski is at 11.9 points per game and a team-high 7.6 rebounds per game. Point guard Kenny Grant is handing out over six assists per game.
SERIES HISTORY WITH DAVIDSON
• UMass has a 2-2 all-time record against the Wildcats. Davidson won the last game on Dec. 29, 1998, 75-66 in overtime at the Mullins Center. Monty Mack had 24 points (20 in the first half) in the game as the Wildcats came back from a 42-27 halftime deficit to send the game to overtime.
• Prior to that loss, UMass had won two straight in the series winning both games in the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons, topping the Wildcats, 77-64 and 82-66 in the meetings. Davidson won the first match-up back in 1982, 71-68 in North Carolina.
• Head coach Steve Lappas has never coached against Davidson or head coach Bob McKillop. McKillop is 2-2 against the Minutemen, coaching in all four games in the series.
UMASS SHOCKS UCONN; FREEMAN HONORED BY A-10
• For his efforts in the upset victory over No. 7 UConn, sophomore forward Rashaun Freeman has been tabbed the Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week announced league Assistant Commissioner for Public Relations Ray Cella.
• Freeman hit the game-winning layup with 4.3 seconds to play on Thursday night as the Minutemen stunned seventh-ranked Connecticut 61-59. He will share the weekly honor with senior guard T.J. Thompson of George Washington who averaged 20.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in two wins last week.
• Pacing UMass with 18 points and eight rebounds against UConn, the Preseason A-10 First Team selection came up big time and again for the Minutemen, who beat the Huskies for the first time in 14 meetings. He has now reached double-figures in four games this season and 28 for his career.
• The teams finished even with 39 rebounds each, but UMass had a slight edge on the glass in the first half and outscored Connecticut 42-24 in the paint for the game where Freeman, the 2004 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, hit 8-of-16 buckets.
• The Huskies came back from a 12-point, first-half deficit and held a tenuous five-point lead late in the game until Freeman hit consecutive baskets with under four minutes left, pulling the Minutemen within 55-54. His layup to win the game snapped UConn's 13-game win streak versus UMass and, more impressively, UConn's 88-game streak extending back to 1986 versus non-conference New England teams.
• The win was the first for UMass over a ranked team since March 9, 2001 when the Minutemen downed Saint Joseph's 75-70 in the A-10 Tournament. The win also improved UMass to 3-1 over defending national champions: defeated 1993 champ North Carolina and 1994 champ Arkansas.
• UConn entered the game averaging 60.0 rebounds per game and outrebounding their opponents by 25.0 per game. UMass tied them on the glass in the game, 39-39. The Minutemen outrebounded the Huskies in the first half, 23-21.
UMASS AMONG LEAGUE FAVORITES
• As the preseason basketball publications rolled in, the UMass men's basketball team continues to garner national attention. In CBS Sportsline/Basketball News Preview, the Minutemen have been picked as the favorites to win the Atlantic 10 East Division. UMass was also selected as the No. 1 team in the East by Lindy's preseason magazine.
• In addition to being picked as the top team in the East, Rashaun Freeman has also been named CBS Sportsline/Basketball News Preview's Conference Player of the Year. Freeman has also been named to the publication's preseason Atlantic 10 first team, while senior guard Anthony Anderson has been named to the preseason second team.
• According to this preview magazine, "Massachusetts has five starters back and hopes to return to glory ... UMass might start to wake some of the echoes of old as they make some noise in the A-10."
• According to Lindy's, "UMass will win the A-10 East because it has the best returning talent. ... The Minutemen return the A-10's best low-post scorer (Freeman), two gifted young wings (Art Bowers, Maurice Maxwell) and a senior point guard (Anthony Anderson)."
• Freeman has also been named the league's top rebounder, is a member of the preseason all-conference first-team and is ranked as the 17th center in the nation according to the magazine.
• Anderson was also named to the preseason all-conference third team. Additionally, the magazine is quoted as saying, newcomer front-court player Lawrence Carrier will be a player to "keep an eye on."
• In checking other preseason magazines, Freeman has also been named to the preseason All-Atlantic 10 first team according to Athlon Sports College Basketball as well as in Street & Smith's College Basketball Preview. In Street & Smith's, Freeman was named the A-10's best rebounder.
ANDERSON LEADS MINUTEMEN IN BACKCOURT
• Senior captain Anthony Anderson is once again be the leader on the court for UMass this season. Last year, Anderson averaged 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest, while hitting 38.7 percent from three-point range and posting a 1.7:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. In addition, he became the 36th career 1,000-point scorer in UMass history during the game at Richmond on March 6, 2004, finishing the year with 1,007 career points scored. Anderson also hit the 200th three-point shot of his UMass career at Fordham on January 28, becoming only the fourth player in school history to accomplish that feat.
• Anderson is now 29th all-time in career scoring with 1,073 points. He passed Alex Eldridge (1,053) in the Gonzaga game with 14 and is just one shy of Shannon Crooks (1,074). He moved past four players in the Northeastern game: Dana Dingle (1,043), Charlton Clarke (1,041), David Brown (1,037) and Derick Claiborne (1,033).
• He is now tied for second on the school's all-time chart for three-pointers made (245) with Carmelo Travieso, and is third in three-point attempts (630) and fifth in three-point percentage (.390). Anderson needs to hit 86 three-point shots to break Monty Mack's school record for three-pointers made (331), which was set from 1997-2001.
• In addition, Anderson totaled 102 assists in 2003-2004, becoming only the sixth player in school history to record 100 or more assists in three consecutive seasons (joining Charlton Clarke, Joe DiSarcina, Alex Eldridge, Derek Kellogg and Carl Smith). If he posts 100 or more assists again in 2004-2005, Anderson will join Smith as the only Minutemen to reach triple digits in assists four times.
• Anderson is now eighth all-time in career assists at UMass with 330 as he passed current Boston College coach Al Skinner (320) in the Gonzaga game and Louisville mentor Rick Pinto, who had 329 from 1973-74.
• In career steals, Anderson is just five away from being tied for ninth in career thefts, as he has 130. Both Tony Barbee and Anton Brown had 135 in the early 90s.
• This season, Anderson is third on the team in scoring (11.0), first in assists (3.5) and second in rebounding (5.2). He hauled down a career-high 13 rebounds in the win over Yale. Anderson is also shooting a great percentage from three-point range, (.391), hitting 18-of-46 this season.
FREEMAN STARRING FOR UMASS
• Center/Forward Rashaun Freeman, who established himself as one of the top young players in the nation last season, should be a top candidate for All-America and Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year honors in 2004-05. Freeman was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year last season, in addition to being selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District I second team and the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team.
• In 29 games played last year, Freeman averaged team bests of 15.4 points and 8.5 rebounds, while hitting 54.9 percent of his shots from the floor and posting 12 double doubles. A seven-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week selection last season, Freeman had his top game in the victory over St. Bonaventure on February 28, when he totaled 31 points and a Mullins Center-record 18 rebounds, while hitting 14 of 19 field goal attempts.
• Among Atlantic 10 players who are returning for the 2004-2005 season, Freeman ranks first in both rebounding and field goal percentage, and third in scoring.
• Freeman leads UMass in scoring with 14.2 points per game and rebounds with 7.0 this season. He posted his 13th career double-double in the loss to Northeastern with 21 points and 11 rebounds. He is tops on the team in field goal percentage (.538).
Maxwell Steps It Up As a Sophomore
• Sophomore swingman Maurice Maxwell has been a key to UMass' offense this season, netting 11.2 points per game, second on the team. He tied his career-high with 19 points against Gonzaga in Seattle. He also led UMass in scoring in the season opening win over Birmingham Southern, with 17.
• Like Anderson, Maxwell has been sensation from three-point range, nailing a 34.5 percent, making 10-of-29 treys this season. Maxwell also tops the team in assists per game, handing out 4.0 per contest.
• Last season, Maxwell just missed a spot on last year's Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team, as he averaged 8.1 points, 3.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
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, and that has continued in 2004-05. UMass is hitting 31.1 percent this season (42-of-135).
• Anthony Anderson and Maurice Maxwell have combined to hit 27-of-60 for 45.0 percent.
• Last season, UMass was 192 of 573 from three-point range (33.5 percent), to record the second-highest totals in school history for both three-point shots made and attempted. In addition, the Minutemen set school single-game records for both three-point field goals made (18) and attempted (40) during last year's game at Temple on March 3. During Lappas' first season at UMass in 2001-02, the Minutemen set the school records for both three-point field goals made (204) and three-point field goals attempted (587). In 2002-2003, UMass sank 164 three-pointers (fifth-most in school history), while attempting 544 shots from beyond the arc (third-most in school history). Massachusetts has made at least one three-point goal in 180 straight games, heading into the 2004-2005 season.
BLOCK PARTY
• The Minutemen are once again among the top teams in the Atlantic 10 at blocking shots during the 2004-05 season. Led by sophomore Stephane Lasme who has 17 blocked shots (2.8 per game, which tops the team.
• Last year, UMass totaled 155 blocks in 29 games, good for an average of 5.34 blocks per contest. The Minutemen stood far ahead of every other school in the Atlantic 10, as Richmond finished the season ranked second with an average of 4.33 blocks. In the final NCAA statistics, UMass ranked 12th in the nation with its average of 5.33 blocks per game. Leading the way for the Minutemen was freshman forward Stephane Lasme, who totaled 51 blocks to rank second in the Atlantic 10 with an average of 1.8 blocks per game.
MULLINS MAGIC
• UMass is in its 13th season of play at the William D. Mullins Memorial Center, and has posted an all-time record of 103-43 in the building. The Minutemen went 8-7 at the Mullins Center last season, recording their 100th all-time victory at Mullins against St. Bonaventure on February 28.
• With the addition of last year's 8-7 mark at Mullins, UMass 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 62-27 all-time record in regular season Atlantic 10 Conference games at the Mullins Center, and a 3-1 mark in Atlantic 10 Tournament contests.
Making The Road Trips Count
• UMass has just 10 road games this season and only two prior to Jan. 12. The Minutemen will travel far and wide as part of their road schedule this season with trip to opposite corners of the country. UMass was in Seattle to face Gonzaga at Key Arena on Dec. 4. That trip was the longest on the schedule at 2,980 miles.
• The weekend following the trip to Seattle, UMass headed to Coral Gables, Fla., home of the University of Miami for a game on Dec. 12. That trip was 1,471 miles. Sandwiched between those cross-country ventures was the match-up with defending national champion UConn on Dec. 9.
• Overall, UMass travels 14,258 (7,129 each way) miles during the regular-season for an average trip of 713 miles each way.