University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Maine
Men's Hoops Opens A-10 Play At St. Bonaventure
December 28, 2017 | Men's Basketball
Game televised and streamed online via NBC Sports Network.
AMHERST, Mass. - After a week-long break for the Christmas holiday, the UMass men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 30 as the Minutemen open Atlantic 10 play at St. Bonaventure. UMass enters the game having won four of its last five non-conference games, while the Bonnies after off to one of the best starts among league team's this season with highlight wins over Maryland and Syracuse.
Saturday's game will be televised on the NBC Sports Network and streamed online via on www.NBCSports.com with Todd Harris (play-by-play) and Blaine Fowler (color analyst) calling the action. On the radio airwaves, the game will be broadcast on the UMass Sports Network anchored by flagship station 105.5 FM WEEI and online via the TuneIn App. Voice of the Minutemen Josh Maurer and Adam Frenier will have the call.
UMass is coming off a 74-63 win over Maine last Friday thanks to a season-high 25 points from freshman guard Carl Pierre. The hot-shooting Minutemen hit 13 three-pointers in the game while holding the Black Bears to just 15 first-half points. The win improved UMass to 7-1 at the Mullins Center this season and 36-4 in home non-conference games over the last six seasons. It also secured a winning non-conference record for the Minutemen for the ninth straight season.
This will be the 70th all-time meeting between UMass and St. Bonaventure with the Minutemen holding a 41-28 record in the series. The Bonnies have won five straight meetings in the series including last season's match-up in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. UMass' last win against SBU came in Olean on Feb. 11, 2015 - a 55-53 win.
UMass continues to be led by Pipkins who is averaging 18.2 points followed by Pierre who upped his scoring average to 10.5 points a night following his performance against Maine. Rashaan Holloway ranks third on the team with 9.7 points in 18 minutes of play. The lone senior on the roster, C.J. Anderson, has been one of the most well-rounded players on the squad with 8.3 points, 5.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. He notched a career-best 12 assists in the win over Maine including a no-look, behind-the-back pass to Chris Baldwin through traffic that was the No. 5 Play of the Day on Friday's ESPN Sports Center.
Pipkins continues to rank among the A-10 leaders this season as the sophomore guard ranks third overall in scoring average. Defensively, the Chicago native is tied for fifth overall in steals per game (1.8).
Anderson ranks second among the league's best in assists as well with 5.8 per game while his 76 assists are second-most overall.
The Bonnies are led by Jaylen Adams' 18.2 points per game despite the guard missing six games this year. Matt Mobley and Courtney Stockard also average double-figures in the scoring column with 17.5 points and 10.6 points, respectively. LaDarien Griffin leads the team with 6.6 rebounds a night to go with 9.7 points. St. Bonaventure is coming off a 60-57 overtime win at Syracuse last Friday where Adams led the squad with 23 points.
Following the league-opening road trip, UMass will have a split series next week hosting George Mason at the Mullins Center on Wednesday, Jan. 3 on Eleven Sports/NESN Plus before then heading to Dayton on Saturday, Jan. 6 for a televised game on the NBC Sports Network.
For complete coverage of the UMass men's basketball team, follow the Minutemen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassBasketball and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
