University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Coleman, Esho Spark UMass Past Rhode Island, 60-56
January 17, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Box Score |
Photo Gallery 
UMass vs Rhode Island Box Score 
AMHERST, Mass. - Zach Coleman sparked a 13-3 run to close the game as Massachusetts defeated Rhode Island 60-56 at the Mullins Center Saturday afternoon.
UMass (10-8, 3-2 Atlantic 10) controlled the glass with a 36-31 advantage, including a 18-7 margin on the offensive end. The Minutemen outscored the Rams 18-3 in second-chance points - both of which were season-highs for UMass and a season-low for its opponents.
Maxie Esho battled foul trouble for the majority of the game, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds and three blocks in 23 minutes.
Coleman finished with a career-high 13 points in 14 minutes. His back-to-back 3-pointers started the run with just over five minutes remaining. He also knocked down a baseline, turn-around jumper with the shot clock nearing zero to put the Minutemen up 57-53 with 3:17 left.
UMass shot just 36 percent but committed a season-low 10 turnovers and scored 19 points off 15 URI miscues.
URI (11-5, 3-2) dropped its second game of the week after a home loss to VCU.
Hassan Martin led the Rams with 13 points and four blocks.
The win was the seventh-straight for UMass over URI.
URI made its first six field goals to grab a 13-7 lead five minutes into the contest. The Minutemen pulled to within 15-13 before the Rams stretched the lead to 24-17.
UMass scored the final five points of the half to take a 28-27 lead into the break.
URI took a 50-45 lead on a Martin 8-foot turnaround jumper with 7:40 left. The Rams got the lead to six twice in the next two minutes before the Minutemen made their game-ending run.
Coleman made the team's first 3-pointer of the game with 5:20 left then stole the ball on the ensuing possession before he buried another triple to tie the game at 53.
Donte Clark followed a URI miss as he drove the baseline for a layup to give UMass its first lead since early in the second half at 55-53.
Coleman then shot a jumper over Jarvis Garrett with the shot clock winding down for a 57-53 lead.
A Gilvydas Biruta floater over Cady Lalanne in the lane pulled the Rams to within 57-56 with 90 seconds left.
Lalanne then came up with a huge offensive rebound - he finished with 10 overall to lead all players - and passed it back out as the shot clock was turned off. The Rams were forced to foul and Donte Clark, UMass' leading free throw shooter at 83 percent, made both free throws to push the margin to 59-56.
On URI's final possession, E.C. Matthews fumbled the ball away and Davis picked it up before being fouled. He made one free throw to ice the game for UMass.
UMass returns to action on Wednesday night when it travels to Saint Joseph's. Tip off at Hagan Arena is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
