University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Rivalry Renewed As Men's Hoops Heads To Rhode Island
January 16, 2018 | Men's Basketball
The 151st installment of annual series tips off Wednesday night at Ryan Center.
AMHERST, Mass. -Â The longest running rivalry in program history is once again renewed as the UMass basketball team heads to Rhode Island on Wednesday night for the 151st edition which dates back to 1908. Tip-off for the annual match-up is slated for 7 PM at the Ryan Center and will be televised locally on COX Cable (free online stream available). Â Â
This will be the first of two meetings this year between the two clubs with the Rams visiting the Mullins Center at the end of the month. Rhode Island is in the midst of a terrific start to the season at 13-3 and 5-0 in A-10 play, while the Minutemen are riding a three-game win streak to sit at 10-8 overall and 3-2 in league 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 will be joined courtside by Adam Frenier courtside.
UMass is coming off another thrilling comeback win after erasing a 16-point second-half deficit to defeat Saint Joseph's last Sunday night, 72-69. Luwane Pipkins notched 27 points as part of his torrid start to the month of January. For his efforts he was named the A-10 Player of the Week and the USBWA National Co-Player of the Week. Carl Pierre was named the A-10 Co-Player of the Week after averaging 21 points in the wins over La Salle and Saint Joseph's.
Overall, the Minutemen hold an 88-63 advantage in the all-time series, but the Rams have won three of the last four meetings. The last time UMass won at the Ryan Center was back on Feb. 9, 2014, 73-68.
UMass continues to be led by Pipkins who is averaging 20.2 points followed by Pierre who is averaging 11.7 points in his rookie campaign. The lone senior on the roster, C.J. Anderson, has been one of the most well-rounded players on the squad with 8.4 points, 5.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game.
After scoring 96 points over the last three games, Pipkins now leads the A-10 in scoring this season. His 44 points against La Salle set a new UMass school record, a Mullins Center record, was the ninth-best performance in A-10 history and was the second-best individual performance this season. Defensively, the Chicago native is 12th overall in steals per game (1.44). Offensively, the guard has improved from 2016-17 to this season by +10.0 points per game - the best of any Minuteman this year.
Anderson ranks second among the league's best in assists as well with 5.6 per game while his 96 assists are second-most overall.
Pierre leads the A-10 in three-point field goal percentage (49.0%) and is the nation's most accurate three-point shooting freshman through 18 games. Overall, the Boston native ranks seventh nationally in three-point field goal percentage. He currently holds the second-best single-season shooting percentage in school history from beyond the arc.
As a team, UMass ranks fifth in the A-10 in shooting percentage (45.7%), second in 3-point percentage (38.0%) and second in free throw percentage (75.6%) this season. UMass' 152 made three-pointers are third most in the league, while the Minutemen rank second in the league for total assists (280).
Following Wednesday's game, UMass will return to the Mullins Center to host Saint Louis on Saturday afternoon (2 PM). The game will feature the return of legend Marcus Camby who will be honored as a recipient of the Naismith National Player of the Year Award which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It will also be Alumni Weekend for the men's basketball program. The game will be stream exclusively on Facebook Live through Stadium (links available on www.UMassAthletics.com). Â
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.
