University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
La Salle
Esho Leads UMass Express Past La Salle 71-65
January 07, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Box Score
UMass at La Salle Box Score 
PHILADELPHIA - Maxie Esho scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Massachusetts to a 71-65 win over La Salle at Tom Gola Arena Wednesday night.
The win was the first on the road this season for UMass (8-7, 1-1 Atlantic 10), which had dropped its four previous attempts. The Minutemen shot 52 percent and won two-consecutive games at La Salle for the first time since the Explorers joined the A-10 prior to the 1995-96 season.
Esho finished 8-of-10 from the floor after leading UMass to a 34-32 halftime lead with 11 points and nine boards. This was his second-career double-double.
Derrick Gordon, the only other UMass player in double figures, had 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.
UMass had five steals and got four La Salle turnovers off its full court press - a point of emphasis for the Minutemen during practice the past few days.
La Salle (8-7, 0-2) had four players in double figures and shot 39 percent from the floor, including 2-of-10 from outside. Cleon Roberts had 17 and Steve Zack recorded 16 with four blocks.
UMass used an 11-3 run midway through the first half to claim a 23-14 lead with 7:58 to play. The run was capped with a steal off the press and a Gordon-to-Donte Clark alley-oop.
The Explorers closed the half on an 8-2 run to narrow the gap to two at the half.
The game stayed at a 2-point margin through the opening minutes of the second period before La Salle grabbed its first lead since the four minute mark of the first half on a Zack layup, 43-41.
UMass regained the lead shortly thereafter and, despite two lead changes, used a 6-1 run to extend the margin to 67-61 with 1:45 left.
A Gordon floater and two Trey Davis free throws kept the Minutemen ahead and then the defense blocked consecutive shots by Jerrell Wright to help secure the game.
Davis had nine points and five assists, while Jabarie Hinds came off the bench to score nine and hand out three assists of his own.
UMass will continue its road trip this weekend when it travels to Fairfax, Va. to play at George Mason. Tip-off at the Patriot Center is at 1:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the UMass Sports Network.
