University of Massachusets Athletics
Tuesday, November 5
Amherst, Mass.
7:00 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
1-0
79
vs
64
UMass Lowell
0-1
1
2
F
UMass Lowell
33
31
64
Massachusetts
36
43
79
Team Effort Sends UMass past UMass Lowell In Season Opener, 79-64
November 05, 2019 | Men's Basketball
AMHERST, Mass. – Led by five players in double-figures, including 23 from T.J. Weeks in his collegiate debut, the Massachusetts men's basketball team (1-0) kicked off the 2019-20 campaign with a 15-point win over UMass Lowell, 79-64, on Tuesday night at the Mullins Center.
Leading by three at the break, the Minutemen shot 57.6% in the second half to lead by as many as 17 to earn its 10th straight win on opening night, and 11th straight home opener at the Mullins Center. The UMass defense, meanwhile, held the River Hawks to 31% shooting in the final 20 minutes, and without a field goal for the final 2:50.
Carl Pierre (13), Samba Diallo (12), Sean East II (11) and Tre Mitchell (10) also reached double-figures for the hosts, with East II adding six of UMass' 18 assists in the game. Christian Lutete led the way for UMass Lowell with 17 points and 13 rebounds, getting help from Obadiah Noel who had a team-high 18 points. Overall, the Minutemen shot 48% (31-of-64) from the field while holding UMass Lowell to a 38% showing (23-of-60).
UMass came out of halftime using an 11-2 run over a three-minute span approaching the midway mark of the first half, with seven of those points coming from Weeks.
The River Hawks hung around, though, getting to within six late in the game, but back-to-back threes from Weeks with two minutes to go put the game out of reach.
UMass led by as many as eight in the first half on 38% shooting (12-of-31) with eight players finding the scoresheet. Lutete kept the River Hawks in the game on 4-of-8 shooting in the first (2-of-3 from three) as UMass Lowell shot 46% from the floor (13-of-28).
Weeks led the charge in the opening 20 minutes off the bench, dropping 10 on 3-of-6 shooting and 3-of-4 from the line, including a three that sparked a sequence highlighted by a Djery Baptiste block, one of four on the night for Baptiste, and a Keon Clergeot steal at the other end.
UMass will hit the road on Saturday when the Minutemen take on Fairfield in Bridgeport, Conn. before returning to the Mullins Center on Tuesday, Nov. 12 to host Northeastern at 7 p.m. on NESNplus and ESPN+.
Tickets for the 2019-20 UMass men's basketball season are now on sale for all 16 regular-season home games in the Mullins Center. Tickets can be purchased now online through the UMass Athletics Ticket Central page, by calling the ticket office at 866-UMASS-TIX, or by visiting the Mullins Center Box Office. In addition to single game tickets, all ticket options are currently available for the upcoming season including season tickets, group tickets and the new Flagship Flex Pack.
The 10-game voucher pack gives fans the flexibility to redeem vouchers for any home game, allowing purchasers to use 10 vouchers for one game, one voucher for 10 games, and every combination in between.
Leading by three at the break, the Minutemen shot 57.6% in the second half to lead by as many as 17 to earn its 10th straight win on opening night, and 11th straight home opener at the Mullins Center. The UMass defense, meanwhile, held the River Hawks to 31% shooting in the final 20 minutes, and without a field goal for the final 2:50.
Carl Pierre (13), Samba Diallo (12), Sean East II (11) and Tre Mitchell (10) also reached double-figures for the hosts, with East II adding six of UMass' 18 assists in the game. Christian Lutete led the way for UMass Lowell with 17 points and 13 rebounds, getting help from Obadiah Noel who had a team-high 18 points. Overall, the Minutemen shot 48% (31-of-64) from the field while holding UMass Lowell to a 38% showing (23-of-60).
UMass came out of halftime using an 11-2 run over a three-minute span approaching the midway mark of the first half, with seven of those points coming from Weeks.
The River Hawks hung around, though, getting to within six late in the game, but back-to-back threes from Weeks with two minutes to go put the game out of reach.
UMass led by as many as eight in the first half on 38% shooting (12-of-31) with eight players finding the scoresheet. Lutete kept the River Hawks in the game on 4-of-8 shooting in the first (2-of-3 from three) as UMass Lowell shot 46% from the floor (13-of-28).
Weeks led the charge in the opening 20 minutes off the bench, dropping 10 on 3-of-6 shooting and 3-of-4 from the line, including a three that sparked a sequence highlighted by a Djery Baptiste block, one of four on the night for Baptiste, and a Keon Clergeot steal at the other end.
UMass will hit the road on Saturday when the Minutemen take on Fairfield in Bridgeport, Conn. before returning to the Mullins Center on Tuesday, Nov. 12 to host Northeastern at 7 p.m. on NESNplus and ESPN+.
Tickets for the 2019-20 UMass men's basketball season are now on sale for all 16 regular-season home games in the Mullins Center. Tickets can be purchased now online through the UMass Athletics Ticket Central page, by calling the ticket office at 866-UMASS-TIX, or by visiting the Mullins Center Box Office. In addition to single game tickets, all ticket options are currently available for the upcoming season including season tickets, group tickets and the new Flagship Flex Pack.
The 10-game voucher pack gives fans the flexibility to redeem vouchers for any home game, allowing purchasers to use 10 vouchers for one game, one voucher for 10 games, and every combination in between.
Team Stats
UML
UMASS
FG%
.383
.484
3FG%
.278
.333
FT%
.650
.471
RB
41
33
TO
18
10
STL
7
11
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
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