University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Takes on Saint Louis at the Mullins Center Saturday
January 21, 2016 | Men's Basketball
| University of Massachusetts Men's Basketball Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 18 | Massachusetts (8-9 overall, 1-4 Atlantic 10) vs. Saint Louis (7-11, 2-4) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 | Noon ET |
| Location | Mullins Center (9,493) | Amherst, Mass. | Directions & Parking |
| Live Statistics | GameTracker |
| Watch | Atlantic 10 Digital Network |
| Listen (Radio) | 105.5 FM WEEI (Western Massachusetts), 830 AM WCRN (Worcester) 95.9 WATD (South Shore), 1200 AM WXKS (Boston, Manchester, Providence) |
| Listen (Online) | WEEI Streaming Player | TuneIn App (mobile devices) |
| Series History | Saint Louis leads 9-5. Last: Massachusetts 60, Saint Louis 56; Jan. 31, 2015 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts  | Saint Louis | Atlantic 10 Conference |
| Team Information | Massachusetts | Saint Louis |
| @UMassAthletics | @UMassBasketball | #GoUMass | |
| UMass Athletics | |
| Buy Tickets | Available through UMass Ticket Central or 866-UMASS-TIX |
| Promotion | Star Wars Day at the Mullins Center |
UMass-Saint Louis Scouting Report
Saint Louis flies East for a Sat., Jan. 23 tilt with UMass men's basketball at the Mullins Center in Amherst, Mass., after the Billikens notched a 98-87 victory over visiting Davidson on Wednesday. Saint Louis improved to 7-11 overall and 2-4 in Atlantic 10 games with the victory, but it went as just the third since the beginning of December after the Billikens won their opening four contests of the season.
Ash Yacoubou (12.7) and Mike Crawford (11.2) guide the offense, which averages 66.6 points per game and shoots 42.6 percent from the floor. Combined the duo is 159-for-343 on field goals (46.4 percent), including 44-of-129 from outside (34.1 percent). Yacoubou also paves the way on the boards with 5.7 per game, followed by 5.5 from Milik Yarbrough and 5.4 by Reggie Agbeko.
Saint Louis defeated Hartford, St. Francis (N.Y.) and North Florida at home in Chaifetz Arena as part of its four-game winning streak in November; however, away from home the team is just 1-4 on the season. The distance to Massachusetts marks the second-longest trip the Billikens have made this season (L, 85-57 at Rhode Island; Jan. 2) and only its fourth time outside the Midwest through 18 games played.
Massachusetts picked up a narrow win the last time these sides met, when the Minutemen secured a 60-56 decision in Chaifetz Arena on Jan. 31, 2015. Cady Lalanne helped the Minutemen to the win with a double-double on 14 points and 10 rebounds while Jabarie Hinds shot 4-for-5 overall (2-of-3 from beyond the arc) for 10 points off of the bench.
Follow UMass Athletics And UMass Basketball On Twitter
Instant information on the basketball program, including an inside look at key points and statistics in each game as well as updates from practice and other team events are available via the Twitter handle @UMassBasketball. Follow the Minutemen there and catch information about each University of Massachusetts Athletic Department program through @UMassAthletics.
Camby Named To Atlantic 10 Legends Class Of 2016
Former University of Massachusetts men's basketball standout Marcus Camby was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference Legends Class of 2016. One of the most decorated athletes in UMass history, Camby won the 1996 John R. Wooden Award and Naismith National Player of the Year in leading the Minutemen to the Final Four and a 35-2 record.
The Men's Basketball Legends will be honored on Sat., March 12 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, prior to the 2016 Men's Basketball Championship semifinals. Camby was a first-team all-American in 1995-96 and led the A-10 with 20.5 points per game. A two-time all-District and first-team all-Conference selection, UMass won the Atlantic 10 in each of his three seasons and he was named A-10 Freshman of the Year in 1994. Camby left Amherst with the most blocks in a career (336) and single-season (128) while he scored 1,387 points to rank in the top 10 all-time among Minutemen.
The highest NBA Draft Pick in Atlantic 10 Conference history, Camby played with six different NBA teams in a 17-year career. Named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year during 2006-07, he is a four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team, and is 12th among the league's all-time blocks leaders.
Trio Of 30+ Point Games Mark Most Since 2010-11
Two 30+ point performances by Trey Davis (40 vs. New Orleans; 30 at Davidson) and one from Donte Clark (30 vs. New Orleans) gives UMass men's basketball its most 30-point individual performances since Anthony Gurley totaled as many during the 2010-11 season.
Bergantino Leading UMass' A-10 Block Party
Senior center and newly minted starter Tyler Bergantino has eight blocks through five Atlantic 10 games, during a 88-minute span on the floor. Bergantino's 1.6 average in each appearance boosts the Minutemen to a 4.2 stuffs per game total (21). Antwan Space and Donte Clark follow Bergantino with five and four apiece.
The Minutemen rank second for blocks per game during league play after they produced 34 during 12 non-conference contests (2.8 per game). Individually, Bergantino is tied for seventh among A-10 competitors while Space is tied for 11th.
Clark Goes Off To Start Atlantic 10 Play
Sophomore guard Donte Clark has produced a team-best 18.8 points per game through five Atlantic 10 matchups this season. Clark scored double-figures in each contest with 15 at La Salle, 21 at No. 25 Dayton and 25 against St. Bonaventure before another 21-point effort versus George Washington and 14 more at Davidson. His 18.8-a-game average is an increase from his non-conference average, which was 17.4 points during 12 appearances. He is currently tied for 10th in the Atlantic 10 for scoring during league play.
Putney Putting Up Big NBA D-League Numbers
UMass men's basketball alum Raphiael Putney has elevated his game during his second season in the NBA D-League. Named among the top 25 NBA prospects in the league (No. 9), Putney is averaging 20.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.7 assists per game through 23 games played. He ranks second in the NBA D-League for blocks, seventh in rebounding and ninth for scoring as one of only two players (Vincent Hunter) appearing in all three top-10 listings.
Putney plays for Rio Grande Valley, which is second in the Central Division at 11-10 on the year. He is an unrestricted free agent, which means any NBA team can sign him and his rights are not held by one organization.
20+ Point Games Becoming Routine For Clark
After he had three games with 20 or more points as a freshman in 2014-15 over 30 appearances, Donte Clark has already surpassed last year's output with six in 17 games as a sophomore. Clark provided 20 or more versus Clemson (25; Nov. 23), Ole Miss (24; Dec. 5), New Orleans (30; Dec. 16), LIU Brooklyn (21; Dec. 29), No. 25 Dayton (21; Jan. 6) and St. Bonaventure (25; Jan. 9).
All Things Point Up For Bergantino
Senior center Tyler Bergantino has emerged as a start at center in the midst of a high-accuracy stretch for the Spring Hill, Fla., native. Over the last four games, Bergantino is 12-for-16 on field goal attempts for a conversion rate of 75.0 percent. An accurate around-the-rim and in-the-paint shooter throughout his UMass playing days, Bergantino is 63.5 percent on field goals all-time with the Minutemen (54-for-85).
Davis Finding His Way To The Foul Line
Trey Davis made 20 consecutive free throws spanning the games against New Orleans, Providence and LIU Brooklyn as part of a recent stretch of improved accuracy and added trips to the line. Davis' record for most consecutive made free throws is 33, earned during the 2014-15 season. Donta Bright holds the school record (40).
Davis ended his streak when he went 10-for-12 against LIU Brooklyn. Over the previous eight contests, Davis is 46-of-52 at the line (88.5 percent), an average of 5.8 made in 6.5 attempted per game during the span. Prior to that, over the opening nine games of the season, Davis was 21-for-28 (75.0 percent) at the charity stripe (2.3 made per game in 3.1 attempted).
Highly-Touted Quartet Fills Out Latest Recruiting Class
Head coach Derek Kellogg brought four new members to the program on Wed., Nov. 11, as Chris Baldwin, DeJon Jarreau, Brison Gresham and Unique McLean signed their National Letters of Intent to compete for the Maroon and White beginning in 2016-17. The quartet combined to earn a top-25 class ranking across the three major recruiting services as it earned 22nd in the nation from 247Sports and 25th from ESPN and 27th according to Rivals. In addition to the praise heaped on the individual student-athletes, Kellogg's signees represent the top ranked class across all Atlantic 10 programs according to ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals.
Baldwin, the No. 2 ranked player in Massachusetts and a four-star recruit via ESPN, hails from Springfield and currently attends Notre Dame Prep.
Gresham, who was a teammate with Jarreau at McDonogh 35 High School in New Orleans before he joined Baldwin at Notre Dame Prep, is ranked No. 7 among players from the state of Louisiana according to 247Sports with an overall grade of 92.
ESPN also touts the abilities of Jarreau, who is a four-star player tabbed No. 61 overall in their top-100 listing with more than 20 offers from NCAA Division I programs across the country.
McLean, who played locally at the MacDuffie School in Granby, chose the Minutemen over Rutgers and a trio of other Atlantic 10 institutions in Dayton, Fordham and Rhode Island.
Cady Lalanne Chosen In 2015 NBA Draft
UMass men's basketball senior center Cady Lalanne was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round with the 55th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Lalanne became the first Minuteman since Stephane Lasme (2007) to be chosen in the NBA Draft and 16th all-time from UMass. He was the only player picked from an Atlantic 10 Conference school.
Basketball Moves In To Champions Center
The University of Massachusetts men's and women's basketball program moved into their first dedicated team facility during the Summer 2015 with the introduction of the John Francis Kennedy Champions Center for UMass Basketball. The 53,000-square foot building offers a state-of-the-art facility for the Minutemen and Minutewomen that will benefit generations of basketball student-athletes to come.
The structure is named in honor of longtime athletics support John Francis Kennedy, who donated the lead gift of $11 million toward the project. The 53,000-square foot facility houses the daily operations for the UMass men's and women's basketball programs. The $22-million facility features dedicated practice courts for each team, office space for the coaching staffs, locker rooms and areas for strength and conditioning along with athletic training services. It also contains Legacy Hall, which will display the rich history of UMass basketball along the building's Eastern corridor.
The creation of the facility has several additional benefits for the University, the community and other programs within the athletics department. Current space utilized in the Mullins Center for basketball will be converted to additional support areas for athletics. The dedicated practice space for the basketball program will allow more open dates for the Mullins Center to schedule entertainment groups such as concerts, theatrical productions and other performers. The teams will no longer need to schedule practices in the Curry Hicks Cage as well, which will allow more time for other athletics programs and University-related organizations to use the space.
