Yale Outlasts Massachusetts 83-80, In Overtime

AMHERST, Mass. – The UMass basketball team (5-6) used a 23-6 run to close the first half to erase a 12-point deficit and take a five-point lead into halftime, but it was a late Yale (9-3) run in the final minute of regulation that helped the Bulldogs force overtime and pick up the victory down the stretch on Wednesday night at the Mullins Center, 83-80.

The Bulldogs used a 7-0 run over the final three minutes to send the game to overtime, with five of those coming from Azar Swain, who finished with a team-high 24 points. Swain went on to get a pair of baskets two minutes into extra time, and the Bulldogs hit free throws late to maintain the late lead.

Junior captain Carl Pierre tied a career-high with 26 points (9-of-15 shooting), highlighted by a career-high 8-of-12 performance from deep, tying the school record for three-pointers made in a game.

Freshman Tre Mitchell had a season-high 24 points to go along with nine rebounds, five assists and zero turnovers, while Sean East II added 16 points and a season-high nine assists.

After Yale opened the game shooting better than 70% from the floor to lead by as many as 12 in the first 15 minutes, the UMass offense came alive with a 23-6 run in the final five minutes of the half to erase the deficit and take a five-point lead into the break, 45-40.

Pierre was red-hot from range, converting on 4-of-7 attempts from deep and 5-of-9 overall to lead the way with 14 points at half, while Mitchell battled down low to add 10 and East dropped 12 on 5-of-8 shooting. Keon Clergeot caused havoc at the other end, taking two charges and adding five points at the offensive end of the floor.

For Yale, which finished the first half shooting 17-of-31 overall, got 10 points apiece from Jordan Bruner and Matthue Cotton.

Massachusetts extended its lead to 10, its largest of the night, midway through the second half after an 11-4 run with baskets coming from East II, Pierre, Mitchell and Djery Baptiste, but from there Yale went 12-of-17 over the final 10:31 of the second half with 14 points coming from Swain.

For the game, the Minutemen shot 48% (32-of-66) against one of the toughest field goal defenses in the nation, a 12-of-27 night from long range and tied a season high with 20 assists. Yale was 34-of-64 overall and 11-of-27 from three.

Massachusetts will be off for more than a week for final exams before returning to action on Friday, Dec. 20 to host Maine at 7 p.m. from the Mullins Center.

Tickets for the 2019-20 UMass men's basketball season are now on sale for all remaining 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.

Scoreboard

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Team Stats

Carl Pierre

Tre Mitchell

Sean East II

Keon Clergeot

Players Mentioned

Djery Baptiste

Keon Clergeot

Sean East II

Tre Mitchell

Carl Pierre

Players Mentioned

Djery Baptiste

Keon Clergeot

Sean East II

Tre Mitchell

Carl Pierre

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics