University of Massachusets Athletics
Minutemen Down Rams 63-61 In Amherst
February 04, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2006
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery
UMass 63, Rhode Island 61 Feb. 4, 2006, Mullins Center
* UMass won its 12th game in a row at home, dating to last season and remained perfect at 8-0 this season with the win over Rhode Island.
* UMass' 12-game win streak is the second-longest in Mullins Center history. The record of 27 was started from the opening game at the arena. That first game was played 14 years ago to the day of Saturday's game, Feb. 4, 1993, a 64-59 overtime win over West Virginia.
* Coming into the game, only 15 schools in the nation had longer home win streaks than UMass, led by Gonzaga and Illinois at 33 games. In Saturday's earlier action, Davidson (19) lost to see their streak end. Tennessee (13) and Duke (12) extended their streaks on Saturday. Gonzaga (33), Illinois (33), Florida (18), Texas A&M Corpus Christi (16) all play later games on Saturday.
* Rashaun Freeman scored in double-figures for the 14th time in 19 games this season and 60th in 75 career games with 21 points. Freeman scored more than 20 for the sixth time this year and 18th in his career.
* Freeman moved to 24th in career scoring at UMass with his 21 points, giving him 1,159 in his three seasons. Freeman passed Will Herndon (1989-92) and Lari Ketner (1996-99), who were tied at 1,148. He also passed Rodger Twitchell (1961-64), who had 1,151 points. Next on the list is Rafer Giles (1987-91), who has 1,163.
* Freeman also grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds for his ninth double-double this season and 28th in his career. He now has double-doubles in four of his last six games.
* Freeman took a career-high 17 free throw attempts. He had taken 15 vs. Rider on Dec. 23, 2004.
* James Life scored in double-figures for the fourth game in a row with 19. He had 10 in the first half. Life is averaging 16.3 over the last four games.
* Life grabbed a career-high tying six rebounds. His high of six was set vs. Fordham on Jan. 18, 2006.
* Stephane Lasme scored in double-figures for the ninth time this season with 12 points. He had just five double-figures games in his career coming into this game.
* Lasme moved to third all-time in career blocked shots at UMass with five in the game, giving him 207 in his career. He passed Lari Ketner (204) from 1996-99.
* Lasme had five blocks to give him 84 this season, which ranks as the fourth-best season in single-season history.
* Lasme drew his second charge of the season, one in each in of the last two games. Rhode Island drew four charges.
* UMass, which came into the game averaging 7.9 per game, had eight in the game.
* Chris Lowe had seven assists in the game's first half. He finished with eight assists.
* UMass is now 7-0 when leading at the half this season.
* Nana Ampim made his third appearance this season, playing the final 22.2 seconds of the first half.