Thanksgiving Showdown As Men's Hoops Takes On Southern Illinois

University of Massachusetts Men's Basketball Game Notes & Information
Game 6	Southern Illinois (2-2) vs. Massachusetts (3-2)
Date // Time	Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018 // 10:30 AM(PT)/1:30 PM (ET)
Location	Las Vegas, Nev. // Orleans Arena
Live Statistics	Statbroadcast Live Stats
Game Notes	vs. Southern Illinois
Watch	Fox Sports // FoxSportsGo
Listen	105.5 FM WEEI, 830 AM WCRN, Tune-In App
Twitter	@UMassAthletics // @UMassBasketball
Instagram	UMass Basketball
Facebook	UMass Basketball
Home Game Tickets	866-UMASS-TIX // Single Game, Season Ticket, Mini-Plan, Parquet Pass Info

Game Preview vs. Southern Illinois

• Coming off Monday's win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in game two of the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational, the UMass basketball team heads west to face Southern Illinois at Orleans Arena on Thursday morning. Following the Thanksgiving day action, the Minutemen will then face either Tulsa or No. 6 Nevada on Friday night.

• Both games will be televised on Fox Sports with Alex Faust and Doug Gottlieb calling the action. Online the games can be watched via FoxSportsGo.

• 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. New Voice of the Minutemen Jay Burnham will be joined courtside by former Minuteman Tim Collins.

• Overall, this will be the third-ever meeting between UMass and Southern Illinois with the Salukis holding a 2-0 record in the series. This will be the first meeting since playing in Carbondale on Nov. 12, 2008 (SIU 80, UMass 73). The only other meeting came in 1999 (SIU 65, UMass 63). The other notable game between UMass and SIU was in the 2007 FCS Quarterfinals where the Salukis won 34-27 in Carbondale. That game featured several future NFL players for UMass and was quarterbacked by Liam Coen - now part of the L.A. Rams coaching staff.

• In Modnay's win over UAPB, the Minutemen bounced back after consecutive losses thanks to a more spread-out scoring effort. Curtis Cobb led UMass with 17 points, while Carl Pierre added 16 points. Jonathan Laurent (12 pts) reached double figures for the fourth time in five games, while Rashaan Holloway scored 11 pts. Luwane Pipkins posted his second straight double-double with a career-high 10 rebounds and 11 assists - of his three career double-doubles, each has come in a different manner (2017 - 21 pts/10 ast; 2018 - 18 pts/10 reb & 10 reb/11 ast).

• UMass is led again this season by Pipkins who is the top returning scorer in the Atlantic 10 after notching 21.2 points per game last year. He was named to the Atlantic 10 Preseason First Team after a breakout sophomore campaign. He is one of just six players in program history to average over 21 points a game in a single-season joining the likes of Julius Erving and Marcus Camby. He also became the 51st player in program history to eclipse 1,000 points for his career.

• With 1,107 points, Pipkins is currently tied for 36th all-time in career points with Cady Lalanne (2012-15; 1,107 pts). Next on the scoring list is Mike Williams (1992-1995; 1,122 pts).

• In the early goings of the season, UMass has the best scoring average (82.6 pts) in the Atlantic 10 and ranks third in field goal percentage (49.7). Defensively, UMass ranks 9th in the league giving up 70.4 points per night.

• UMass shot the lights out in the 104-75 win against New Hampshire hitting 66.7 percent of its field goals. It was the first time since 2006 against Dartmouth that the Minutemen hit 60 percent or better from the floor. It was also the best shooting performance since going 35-of-52 (67.3%) in a win at West Virginia in 1991.

• For the season, five Minutemen are now averaging double figures led by Pipkins' 18.4 per night and Laurent's 11.6 per game. Carl Pierre (10.8), Curtis Cobb (10.4), and Holloway (10.0) are just behind. Holloway leads the Minutemen in rebounding (6.6), while Pipkins is second (6.2) and also leads the team in assists (6.8).

• The trip to Las Vegas marks the third time UMass has played there and the first since 2015-16 when the Minutemen faced Clemson and Creighton in the MGM Grand Main Event Tournament. UMass also took on Colorado during the 1997-98 season in the Las Vegas Shootout.

Scoreboard