University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Davidson
Men's Basketball Falls At Davidson 66-63
November 22, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 22, 2005
DAVIDSON, N.C. - In a game that saw 24 lead changes throughout, it was a lay-up by Davidson's Thomas Sander with 33 seconds to play that proved the most crucial as it gave the Wildcats the final change of the night. The Wildcats erased a 10 point UMass lead in the final eight minutes of action to take a 66-63 win at the John M. Belk Arena on Tuesday night in front of 3,084 fans.
The loss knocks UMass to 1-1 in the young season, while Davidson improves to 1-1 following a loss to top-ranked Duke last Saturday.
After trading baskets for much of the game, UMass put together a 12-0 run taking a 60-50 lead with 7:31 remaining.
The Wildcats responded, however, trimming that margin over the next seven minutes until Sander's conversion. Brendan Winters, the SoCon Preseason Player of the Year, hit two free throws with four seconds remaining to seal the win. Winters was held to just nine points on the night by tenacious defense by UMass junior Brandon Thomas (San Antonio, Texas).
Winters scored 17 at Duke in Davidson's season-opener and had scored double-figures in 27 consecutive games.
With four seconds to play, UMass inbound the ball with no timeouts, but junior Art Bowers' (Wilmington, Del.) three-point attempt was blocked out of bounds as time expired.
Junior Stephane Lasme (Libreville, Gabon) nearly had a triple double as he was one blocked shot away. He posted a career-high and school-record tying nine blocks to go with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Maurice Maxwell (Philadelphia, Pa.) led the Minutemen with 13 points including a three-pointer (one of three on the night) that helped spark the 12-0 run.
Ian Johnson led all scorers with 20 points on the night and hauled in nine boards. Matt McKillop, son of Davidson head coach Bob McKillop, played a crucial roll in the comeback scoring eight of his 11 points in the final 5:17 of play.
The two squads played a tight first half with both trading baskets. Fouls were an issue for the Minutemen as the Wildcats were in the double bonus with over five minutes to go. Davidson was 12-for-15 in the half from the charity stripe. Ian Johnson led all scorers in the opening half with 16 points including 12 of the Wildcats final 16 points of the half.
UMass will return to action this Friday when the Minutemen take on UAB in the Hall of Fame Tip-off Classic at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. Tip-off for the game is slated for 1:00 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Network.
