University of Massachusets Athletics
Friday, November 29
Piscataway, N.J.
2:00 PM
University of Massachusetts
5-3,0-0Atlantic
57
at
82
Rutgers
6-1,0-0Big Ten
1
2
F
Massachusetts
27
30
57
Rutgers
34
48
82
Big Second Half Sends Rutgers Past UMass, 82-57
November 29, 2019 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The UMass basketball team (5-3) received a career-high 16 points from sophomore Sy Chatman and a game-high 19 from freshman T.J. Weeks, but Rutgers (6-1) shot 67% in the second half to build on its seven-point halftime lead and knock off the Minutemen on Friday afternoon in front of 5,592 at The RAC, 82-57.
The Scarlet Knights put four players in double-figures and scored 54 points in the paint, led by Geo Baker's 17. Ron Harper Jr. added 15 while Caleb McConnell and Jacob Young added 10 apiece for a Rutgers team that shot 53.4% from the floor (31-of-58) on the afternoon and caused 19 UMass turnovers.
"We weren't really able to overcome some unforced turnovers," said head coach Matt McCall. "We have to get that corrected because obviously our schedule doesn't get any easier, but you have to give Rutgers a lot of credit for how they played. I thought our guys competed, but we're not there yet to get a win in a game like this on the road in a hostile environment."
Weeks, who got the start for the first time this season, got the Minutemen going early with nine points in the first 10 minutes of the game, including three three-point field goals, to give UMass a 15-13 lead. After a Chatman lay in with 9:38 to go in the first, Massachusetts' largest lead of the day, Rutgers rattled off a 13-0 run over a five-minute span to take a seven-point lead into the locker room, 34-27.
A 7-2 run out of the break increased the Rutgers advantage to double-digits at 41-29, but the Minutemen continued to fight with three straight buckets from Chatman before Carl Pierre knocked down one of his two second half treys to cut the deficit to 10. But that was as close as UMass would get as Rutgers held the Minutemen to 12-of-34 from the floor in the second half, with Chatman pouring in 11 of his 16 points in the final 20 minutes.
The Minutemen return to the Mullins Center on Wednesday night when Massachusetts hosts South Carolina at 7 p.m. on CBSSN.
"Offensively, I thought we struggled with getting into a rhythm, and you have to give Rutgers credit for that," McCall said. "But this is what we're trying to build towards. To be able to win Big Ten games on the road in a hostile environment. We're not there yet, and we got a long way to go. But I think a game like this today will prepare us for a big game at home on Wednesday."
Through Monday, Dec. 2, fans can take advantage of UMass' Black Friday ticket special, which allows fans to reserve their seats in the value section for all remaining home games for just $10. Tickets can be purchased by visiting UMassAthletics.com/tickets or by calling 866-UMASS-TIX.
The Scarlet Knights put four players in double-figures and scored 54 points in the paint, led by Geo Baker's 17. Ron Harper Jr. added 15 while Caleb McConnell and Jacob Young added 10 apiece for a Rutgers team that shot 53.4% from the floor (31-of-58) on the afternoon and caused 19 UMass turnovers.
"We weren't really able to overcome some unforced turnovers," said head coach Matt McCall. "We have to get that corrected because obviously our schedule doesn't get any easier, but you have to give Rutgers a lot of credit for how they played. I thought our guys competed, but we're not there yet to get a win in a game like this on the road in a hostile environment."
Weeks, who got the start for the first time this season, got the Minutemen going early with nine points in the first 10 minutes of the game, including three three-point field goals, to give UMass a 15-13 lead. After a Chatman lay in with 9:38 to go in the first, Massachusetts' largest lead of the day, Rutgers rattled off a 13-0 run over a five-minute span to take a seven-point lead into the locker room, 34-27.
A 7-2 run out of the break increased the Rutgers advantage to double-digits at 41-29, but the Minutemen continued to fight with three straight buckets from Chatman before Carl Pierre knocked down one of his two second half treys to cut the deficit to 10. But that was as close as UMass would get as Rutgers held the Minutemen to 12-of-34 from the floor in the second half, with Chatman pouring in 11 of his 16 points in the final 20 minutes.
The Minutemen return to the Mullins Center on Wednesday night when Massachusetts hosts South Carolina at 7 p.m. on CBSSN.
"Offensively, I thought we struggled with getting into a rhythm, and you have to give Rutgers credit for that," McCall said. "But this is what we're trying to build towards. To be able to win Big Ten games on the road in a hostile environment. We're not there yet, and we got a long way to go. But I think a game like this today will prepare us for a big game at home on Wednesday."
Through Monday, Dec. 2, fans can take advantage of UMass' Black Friday ticket special, which allows fans to reserve their seats in the value section for all remaining home games for just $10. Tickets can be purchased by visiting UMassAthletics.com/tickets or by calling 866-UMASS-TIX.
Team Stats
UMASS
RU
FG%
.361
.534
3FG%
.304
.231
FT%
.500
.708
RB
34
40
TO
19
14
STL
5
11
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
3
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
UMass MBB | Post Game Press Conference vs Le Moyne | 11.13.25
Thursday, November 13
UMass MBB | Frank Martin Post Game Press Conference vs Le Moyne | 11.13.25
Thursday, November 13
UMass MBB | Broadcast Highlights vs Le Moyne | 11.14.25
Thursday, November 13
UMass MBB | Coach Frank Martin Post Game Press Conference vs Albany | 11.08.25
Saturday, November 08