University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, February 23
Amherst, Mass.
2 PM
University of Massachusetts
10-17, 3-11 A-10
80
vs
79
Saint Joseph's
11-16, 4-10 A-10
1
2
F
Saint Joseph's
54
25
79
Massachusetts
37
43
80
Thrilling Second-Half Propels Men's Basketball to Comeback Win Over Saint Joseph's, 80-79
February 23, 2019 | Men's Basketball
Minutemen erase 19-point deficit for exhilarating home win.
AMHERST, Ma. - Carl Pierre's jumper with 2.7 seconds left in regulation proved the game-winner as the UMass men's basketball team erased a 19-point second half deficit for a thrilling 80-79 victory over Saint Joseph's on Saturday afternoon at the Mullins Center.
UMass (10-17, 3-11 A-10) outscored the Hawks 43-25 in the second half after trailing by 17 heading into intermission. Saint Joseph's was able to get a late possession following Pierre's jumper, but missed a three-pointer as time expired.
Jonathan Laurent set a new career-high for the Minutemen with 24 points. In addition to his late game heroics, Carl Pierre had 21 points for his fifth 20-plus point effort of the season. UMass as a team shot 57% from the field hitting 31-of-54 field goals and a stellar 47% (10-21) from 3-point range.
Saint Joseph's (11-16, 4-10 A-10) was paced by senior Chris Clover who scored 19 for the Hawks. Lamarr Kimble added 14, and Lorenzo Edwards had 12.
The Hawks jumped out to an early 11-4 lead and had a 54-37 advantage at the end of a high-scoring, up-tempo first half. SJU built the lead on the heels of 69% (9-13) shooting from three-point range during the first period.
It was new ballgame in the second half. The Hawks went cold in the second session, making just one three point field goal. The Minutemen, meanwhile, slowly crawled back into the game.
The Hawks' lead was cut to single digits with 8:55 to play in the game and to a one-possesion game with just over seven minutes left.
The final moments were tense, but Pierre's mid-range shot completed the improbable comeback. UMass shot 60% (16-27) from the field in the second half, while Saint Joseph's shot just 29% (6-21).
UMass returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. when the Dayton Flyers make the trip east to Amherst. The game will be televised on NESNPlus regionally and streamed live on ESPN+. Visit www.UMassAthletics.com, call 866-UMASS-TIX or stop by the Mullins Center Box Office for tickets.
For complete coverage of the UMass basketball team, follow the Minutemen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassBasketball or online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
UMass (10-17, 3-11 A-10) outscored the Hawks 43-25 in the second half after trailing by 17 heading into intermission. Saint Joseph's was able to get a late possession following Pierre's jumper, but missed a three-pointer as time expired.
Jonathan Laurent set a new career-high for the Minutemen with 24 points. In addition to his late game heroics, Carl Pierre had 21 points for his fifth 20-plus point effort of the season. UMass as a team shot 57% from the field hitting 31-of-54 field goals and a stellar 47% (10-21) from 3-point range.
Saint Joseph's (11-16, 4-10 A-10) was paced by senior Chris Clover who scored 19 for the Hawks. Lamarr Kimble added 14, and Lorenzo Edwards had 12.
The Hawks jumped out to an early 11-4 lead and had a 54-37 advantage at the end of a high-scoring, up-tempo first half. SJU built the lead on the heels of 69% (9-13) shooting from three-point range during the first period.
It was new ballgame in the second half. The Hawks went cold in the second session, making just one three point field goal. The Minutemen, meanwhile, slowly crawled back into the game.
The Hawks' lead was cut to single digits with 8:55 to play in the game and to a one-possesion game with just over seven minutes left.
The final moments were tense, but Pierre's mid-range shot completed the improbable comeback. UMass shot 60% (16-27) from the field in the second half, while Saint Joseph's shot just 29% (6-21).
UMass returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. when the Dayton Flyers make the trip east to Amherst. The game will be televised on NESNPlus regionally and streamed live on ESPN+. Visit www.UMassAthletics.com, call 866-UMASS-TIX or stop by the Mullins Center Box Office for tickets.
For complete coverage of the UMass basketball team, follow the Minutemen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassBasketball or online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
Team Stats
SJU
UMASS
FG%
.500
.574
3FG%
.417
.476
FT%
.875
.800
RB
19
26
TO
10
12
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
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