University of Massachusets Athletics
Postgame Notes: UMass at Duquesne
January 07, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2006
* UMass won its first A-10 conference opener since 1998-99 with the 82-63 win over Duquesne on Saturday. UMass last won a conference debut against Virginia Tech, 55-40 on Jan. 5, 1999. The Minutemen had lost six straight A-10 openers. * It was also UMass' biggest win against a conference team since an 85-59 win over Fordham on Feb. 3, 2001 at the Mullins Center.
* It was the largrest conference road since a 78-46 at Rhode Island on Jan. 30, 2001.
* Rashaun Freeman (20 points) scored more than 20 points for the fourth time this season and 16th time in his career. He was in double-figures for the ninth time in 11 games this season and 55th time in his career in 68 games.
* Freeman is now tied for 30th in career scoring at UMass after tallying 20 against Duquesne as he has 1,053. He passed Derick Claiborne (1,033), David Brown (1,037), Charlton Clarke (1,041), Dana Dingle (1,043) and tying Alex Eldridge (1,053).
* Stephane Lasme tallied 19 points in the game for his fourth straight in double-figures. He had four total games in double-figures in his first two seasons with UMass.
* Lasme scored 10 points in the first 10:00 of the game for his seventh double-figure game this season. He had just four games with 10 or more points in his first two seasons at UMass. Lasme had 13 points in the first half before leaving with foul trouble.
* In his return to Pittsburgh, Dante Milligan tallied a career-high nine points. He had scored seven in his first game with UMass against Siena (12/23). He also had six rebounds.
* Brandon Thomas scored the first field goal for UMass again, marking the sixth time in 11 games this season.
* Thomas was into double-figures for the second game in a row and fifth time this season.
* UMass shot a season-high 55.4 from the floor, it was the best since shooting 57.1 from the floor vs. Florida State last season.
* UMass was sensational from two-point range all afternoon making 26-of-40 while they made just 5-of-16 from beyond the 3-point arc.
* UMass shot 57.7 in the first half, making 15-of-26 including 12-of-18 from two-point range in the first half
* Duquesne was held without a field goal for a stretch of 11:04 from 52 seconds left in the first half until 9:48 was left in the game. They missed 11 field goals in a row.