UMass Returns Home To Host Northeastern On Tuesday

University of Massachusetts Men's Basketball Game Notes & Information
Game 3	Massachusetts (2-0) vs. Northeastern (2-0)
Date \| Time	Tuesday, November 12, 2019 \| 7:00 p.m.
Location	Amherst, Mass. \| Mullins Center
Watch	NESNplus \| NESNgo \| ESPN+ (outside New England)
Listen	105.5 FM (WEEI) \| 830 AM (WCRN) \| Tune-In App
Live Statistics	SIDEARM Live Stats
Game Notes	Massachusetts Notes \| Northeastern Notes \| 2019-20 Prospectus
Twitter	@UMassAthletics \| @UMassBasketball
Instagram	UMass Basketball
Facebook	UMass Basketball
UMass Home Tickets	Get Your 2019-20 Tickets Now!

AMHERST, Mass. -- After erasing a 10-point deficit to top Fairfield on the road last weekend, the UMass basketball team returns home for three straight games, beginning on Tuesday against Northeastern in the first meeting with the Huskies since 2014. A win on Tuesday would move UMass to 3-0 on the young season, its best start since the 2015-16 campaign.

Tuesday's promotions
In honor of Veteran's Day, the Minutemen want to show their eternal gratitude to all those who have served. UMass will be recognizing individuals and organizations that provide support for all veterans, and all military members are eligible for two free tickets.

The series with Northeastern
Massachusetts and Northeastern will be meeting for the 46th time in program history on Tuesday, with UMass leading the series, 37-18.

Tuesday marks the first time since the 2014-15 season that the two teams will meet on the hardwood in a series that dates back to 1921-22, with the Minutemen winning each of the last four.

The Minutemen will be tasked with trying to shut down Northeastern guard Jordan Roland, who leads the nation with 40.5 points per game to open the year. Roland dropped 39 points against Boston University in the season opener before breaking the school record for points in a game, previously held by Reggie Lewis and JJ Barea, with 42 against Harvard on Friday.

Keeping it in state
Tuesday will be UMass' second of three games this season against in-state opponents. Since the 2011-12 season, the Minutemen are 15-4 (.789) against teams from Massachusetts.

Youth movement
It's a new look roster for the Minutemen in 2019-20 with nine newcomers, including seven freshmen. The seven rookies are the most for UMass since the 2007-08 season.

Six freshmen (John Buggs III, Sean East II, Kolton Mitchell, Tre Mitchell, Preston Santos, T.J. Weeks) all made their collegiate debuts in the season opener against UMass Lowell, with East II and Tre Mitchell in the starting lineup.

The rookies combined for 51 of the team's 79 total points and 16 of UMass' 33 total rebounds against UMass Lowell.

Veteran leadership
In addition, UMass' four upperclassmen (Carl Pierre, Keon Clergeot, Djery Baptiste, Davonte Higginbottom) are tied with Central Connecticut, Lipscomb and Long Beach State for the third fewest juniors and seniors on an NCAA roster. Utah (two) and Florida (three) are the only schools in the country with fewer upperclassmen than the Minutemen.

Pierre finished last season ranked third in the A-10 in three-point percentage (38.1%).

Familiar faces
A trio of UMass freshmen (Tre Mitchell, Preston Santos, TJ Weeks), all played together in prep school at Woodstock Academy. In 2018-19, they led the team to a 38-2 record with a No. 2 national ranking for a team coached by new assistant coach Tony Bergeron.

Like father, like son
Freshman T.J. Weeks is no stranger to UMass Basketball. The Warwick. R.I. native is the son of former UMass great Tyrone Weeks Sr.

Weeks Sr. scored over 1,000 points for UMass from 1994-98 and played in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, averaging 8.1 points per game and 22.4 minutes per game in 125 career contests.

Weeks dazzles in UMass debut
T.J. Weeks' 23-point performance against UMass Lowell last week marked the most for a Minuteman in his collegiate debut in more than 20 seasons, and the most for any UMass player in a season opener since Trey Davis poured in 28 against Siena to kick off the 2014-15 season. Since 1999, only eight players have scored at least 23 points in the season opener.

Resiliency prevails as UMass tops Fairfield
Trailing by seven at the half on 36% shooting, the UMass offense came alive as the Minutemen shot 60.9% in the final 20 minutes and held Fairfield to just two baskets in the final five minutes to knock off the Stags on the road Saturday afternoon at Webster Bank Arena, 62-60.

A game that saw neither team lead by more than 10 points came down to the final play as Fairfield's Landon Tallaferro, who led the team with 15 points, missed a three from the right side with less than five seconds left. Freshman Tre Mitchell hauled down the loose ball, drawing the foul and sending himself to the line with 1.9 seconds left.

Mitchell finished with a game-high 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, along with a team-high seven rebounds, while Sean East II added 14 and a game-high seven dimes. Samba Diallo also scored in double-figures with 12 points and six boards, while T.J. Weeks hit three big treys off the bench in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

The road ahead
The Minutemen continue their three-game homestand when UMass kicks off the 2019 Basketball Hall of Fame Tournament, presented by Citi, on Saturday afternoon against Central Connecticut State at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

Scoreboard

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Djery Baptiste

John Buggs III

Keon Clergeot

Samba Diallo

Sean East II

Kolton Mitchell

Tre Mitchell

Carl Pierre

Preston Santos

T.J. Weeks Jr.

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics