University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Shockers (Bahamas Exhibition)
UMass Wraps Up Bahamas Tour With 138-86 Win
August 23, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Aug. 23, 2006
NASSAU, Bahamas - UMass finished up its Bahamas training trip with its highest scoring game, a 138-86 win over the Rattlers on Wednesday night at Loyola Hall. Senior Brandon Thomas scored 32 points, the most for any player in a game on the trip as he also grabbed a game-high seven rebounds. Junior Gary Forbes netted 27 points and had nine assists as he played point guard for much of the second half.
The Minutemen wrapped its five-game, seven-day tour with a perfect 5-0 record, averaging 126.0 points per game. Thomas was the top scorer on the trip, averaging 19.6 points per game while Forbes was a close second at 19.0.
"This was a great game for us to wrap up our trip to the Bahamas," said head coach Travis Ford. "That opponent was more physical and I was glad we got some strong competition in the first half. I think we played our best basketball tonight. We gave up too many points, but overall I was very pleased with the last-game performance. We fought through adversity early and kept our composure."
Six Minutemen scored in the double-figures in the game as senior Rashaun Freeman registered 19 points as he averaged 16.0 in the five games. Senior James Life also netted 19 points as he hit a game-best five 3-pointers. Junior Etienne Brower had 11 as did sophomore Luke Bonner - which was his best-scoring game of the tour.
Playing without point guard Tiki Mayben, sophomore Chris Lowe had a personal-best 11 assists along with Forbes big game as the back-up point guard.
The third quarter saw UMass turn up the defense and pump in the shots. After Lowe was called for a technical foul midway through the quarter and the Rattlers made a free throw to make it 72-59, UMass went on another patented scoring run which they have done often in the Bahamas. The Minutemen ended the quarter on a 28-7 run led by Thomas, who added nine more points in the spurt. Bonner scored the final seven points of the quarter for UMass including a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the 100-66 lead at the end of three.
The Minutemen built up their advantage in the second quarter, leading 64-45 at intermission with Thomas topping the team in scoring with 18. Freeman excelled late in the quarter with the final seven points of the second to give him nine in the first half. Forbes also had 12 in the first half.
UMass faced its stiffest competition of its tour which was evident in the first quarter as the Minutemen led by just seven points, 33-26 at the end of the period. The Rattlers closed the quarter on a 13-5 run. Thomas keyed UMass in the quarter with 11 points.
Freshman point guard Mayben was held out of the game because of a mild concussion suffered on Tuesday night when he accidentally collided with referee Fred Brown.
The UMass men's basketball team opens its regular-season on Nov. 11 against Dartmouth at the Mullins Center. Regular-season tickets are on sale by calling 1-866-UMASS-TIX.
Game Stats
UMass 138 (FG FT-FTA=Pts)
Etienne Brower 3 5-5=11, Stephane Lasme 3 0-2=6, Rashaun Freeman 8 3-3=19, Chris Lowe 2 2-2=6, Gary Forbes 10 5-7=27, Brandon Thomas 13 5-8=32, Luke Bonner 2 5-8-11, James Life 7 0-0=19, Dante Milligan 2 0-0=4, Matt Pennie 1 0-0=2. TOTALS 51 25-35=138
Rattlers 86
Farrington 3 0-2=6, Banks 2 4-8=9, Rose 5 5-9=15, Hannah 8 3-3=20, Prothrow 2 2-2=6, Mortimer 1 2-2=4, Cardio 5 1-4=13, L. Carter 2 3-4=8, Thompson 2 1-3=5, D. Carter 0 0-0=0. TOTALS 29 21-37=86.
Score By Quarters
UMass 33-31-36-38-138
Rattlers 26-19-21-20=86
3-Pointers: UMass - Life 5, Bonner 2, Forbes 2, Lowe 1, Thomas 1. Rattlers - Cardio 2, Banks 1, L. Carter 1, Hannah 1.
