University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Charlotte
Charlotte Nips Men's Basketball, 72-71
February 22, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 22, 2006
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery
AMHERST, Mass. - Leemire Goldwire, De'Angelo Alexander and Curtis Withers combined for 66 of Charlotte's points as the 49ers nipped the UMass men's basketball team 72-71 on Wednesday night. Stephane Lasme (Libreville, Gabon) led the Minutemen with 18 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting. Rashaun Freeman (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Lawrence Carrier (San Bernadino, Calif.) also reached double-figures for UMass who fell for just the second time in 14 games at the Mullins Center.
The 49ers (17-9, 10-3 A-10) hit 12-of-18 from three-point range led by Alexander who was 6-for-9 and Goldwire who was 5-for-8 from behind the arc.
Lasme scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half to help rally the Minutemen who trailed by seven, 38-31, at intermission. It was the third consecutive game that he scored in double-figures.
Goldwire scored 24 points to lead all players, while Alexander hit 22 points and Withers add 20 points.
UMass was led by Lasme's 18 points, while Carrier chipped in 13 points and Freeman 12 points. Freshman Chris Lowe (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) scored six points and tallied nine assists.
Despite 20 turnovers on the game which Charlotte converted into 31 points, UMass shot a season-high 57.4 percent (27-of-47) from the field.
UMass jumped out to a 13-2 lead to start the game, but after a Charlotte timeout at the 14:42 mark, the 49ers ripped off a 25-to-1 run to take a 27-14 lead. The Minutemen were held without a field goal for a total of 7:40 until Lowe hit a three-pointer to end the drought with 7:06 remaining in the half.
A Brandon Thomas (San Antonio, Texas) lay-up and free throw pulled UMass within four, 35-31, but Goldwire buried a trey as time expired to send Charlotte into halftime with the 38-31 lead.
Thomas hit a three-pointer to open the second half and Lasme hit a jumper to tie the game at 39 each as UMass (11-13, 6-7 A-10) started the second period on a 10-to-1 run.
Viggiano hit a lay-up with 17:33 to play in the game to give UMass a 41-39 lead, but a lay-up and free throw by Goldwire and a three-pointer from Alexander over the next 42 seconds put the 49ers back up by four.
Another three by Goldwire with 12:33 to go in the game put Charlotte up by seven - its largest lead since halftime - but the Minutemen rallied with an 11-to-2 run to take a 60-58 lead with 7:31 to play on a Lasme dunk.
The game was tied six times down the stretch after Goldwire hit his fifth trey of the game to tie the game at 71 each with 1:02 left in regulation.
Goldwire forced a turnover on the next UMass possession which gave Charlotte the ball with 25 seconds to go. Withers drove from the left wing to the baseline and was fouled by Freeman as he went in for the lay-up. Withers hit his first free throw, but missed the second and UMass' Viggiano grabbed the rebound with three seconds to go.
Viggiano advanced the ball up the left sideline and heaved a three-point attempt from the UMass side of halfcourt with 0.5 seconds left, but was just off giving the 49ers the win.
UMass will next play Dayton on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Noon. The Minutemen will dedicate the court of the Mullins Center to former head coach and UMass Hall of Famer Jack Leaman at halftime.
