University of Massachusets Athletics
No. 3 UConn Tops UMass, 78-60
December 08, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 8, 2005
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery
HARTFORD, Conn. - Rashaun Freeman had 15 points in the first half to give him his 50th career game with double-figures in 62 career games. It was the fourth time in five games this season he went past 10 points. He finished with 19.
Freeman hit all six of his first-half shots from the floor and was UMass' high-rebounder with six.
Jeff Viggiano continued to have strong games against his homestate team as he finished with 17 points. It was his 28th career game in double-figures and second this season, with the other coming against Hartford, also a Nutmeg State school. In his last two games vs. UConn he had 22 and 12 points, respectively.
It was Viggiano's highest point total since he had 23 against Temple on March 3, 2004.
With 12:09 left in the second half, the combination of Freeman and Viggiano had combined to hit 13-of-16 from the floor while the rest of UMass was a combined 5-of-24.
Stephane Lasme had three blocks and now has 26 this season and 149 in his career to rank sixth all-time at UMass. Next on the list is Kitwana Rhymer (184). Lasme came into the game averaging 5.8 blocks per game, second-best in the nation.
MinuteMatters: UConn won the opening tap ... Rashaun Freeman drew a charge on Josh Boone just 1:12 into the game ... Freeman had the opening points of the game 1:31 into the game ... Brandon Thomas made a lay-up for a 4-0 lead ... UConn drew a charge on Brandon Thomas ... UMass led for the game's first 4:51 and did not trail until 5:05 into the game ... Trailing 9-8, UConn went on a 15-1 run from 13:21 left in the first half until Rashaun Freeman scored with 9:35 left in the half, the run spanned 3:46 and gave UConn a 23-10 lead (its largest of the first half) ... Stephane Lasme had a dunk with 8:26 left in the first to make it 23-14 ... The UMass bench was charged with a technical foul with 2:56 left in the first half ... UConn built its lead to 19 with 9:38 left in the game on a thunderous dunk by Rudy Gay, making it 66-47 ... That play ended an 11-0 run over which spanned 4:53 in the second half.