University of Massachusets Athletics
Friday, December 11
Amherst, Mass.
1:30 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
1-0,0-0Atlantic 10
94
vs
79
Northeastern
0-1,0-0CAA
1
2
F
Northeastern
36
43
79
Massachusetts
47
47
94
Tre Mitchell, Garcia Lead UMass Past Northeastern In Season Opener, 94-79
December 11, 2020 | Men's Basketball
Mitchell drops 31 points and 11 rebounds, while Garcia adds 23 in UMass debut
AMHERST, Mass. – Playing its first game since Mar. 7, 2020 (279 days), the UMass men's basketball team (1-0) received 31 points and 11 rebounds from Tre Mitchell and 23 points from rookie Javohn Garcia as the Minutemen knocked off Northeastern (0-1) on Friday afternoon at the Mullins Center, 94-79.
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Mitchell and Garcia led four players in double figures, including Carl Pierre who had 14 including his 250th career three-point field goal, along with T.J. Weeks Jr. with 11 off the bench in his first appearance since missing the final 21 games due to injury last season. Overall, UMass shot 50% from the floor (34-of-68), including 9-of-23 from deep.
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Northeastern, meanwhile, was led by Tyson Walker (29 points; 7-of-9 shooting), including a 13-of-14 day from the line. The Huskies shot 53% overall (26-of-49) and 22-of-28 from the stripe.
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Both teams got off the slow start before the Minutemen used a 15-2 run to go up by 11 at 30-19, a lead it would not relinquish. Mitchell finished the first half with 19 points and six rebounds.
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The Minutemen continued to build on the lead in the second half, using a 13-4 run to open up a 19-point advantage with less than 10 minutes to play, its largest lead of the night.Â
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Garcia added four assists and a team-high three steals, becoming the second straight Minuteman to record 23 points in his collegiate debut, the most for a UMass rookie in the last 20 years.
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UMass improves to 13-1 in season openers dating back to 2003, including 11 straight wins. Overall, Massachusetts is 78-34 in season openers in the 112-year history of the program. In addition, the win extends the Minutemen's winning streak in home openers to 12 straight.
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The Minutemen, who have now beaten Northeastern in six straight contests, will make the return trip to Boston on Sunday for a 12 p.m. tip at the Cabot Center.
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Mitchell and Garcia led four players in double figures, including Carl Pierre who had 14 including his 250th career three-point field goal, along with T.J. Weeks Jr. with 11 off the bench in his first appearance since missing the final 21 games due to injury last season. Overall, UMass shot 50% from the floor (34-of-68), including 9-of-23 from deep.
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Northeastern, meanwhile, was led by Tyson Walker (29 points; 7-of-9 shooting), including a 13-of-14 day from the line. The Huskies shot 53% overall (26-of-49) and 22-of-28 from the stripe.
Â
Both teams got off the slow start before the Minutemen used a 15-2 run to go up by 11 at 30-19, a lead it would not relinquish. Mitchell finished the first half with 19 points and six rebounds.
Â
The Minutemen continued to build on the lead in the second half, using a 13-4 run to open up a 19-point advantage with less than 10 minutes to play, its largest lead of the night.Â
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Garcia added four assists and a team-high three steals, becoming the second straight Minuteman to record 23 points in his collegiate debut, the most for a UMass rookie in the last 20 years.
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UMass improves to 13-1 in season openers dating back to 2003, including 11 straight wins. Overall, Massachusetts is 78-34 in season openers in the 112-year history of the program. In addition, the win extends the Minutemen's winning streak in home openers to 12 straight.
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The Minutemen, who have now beaten Northeastern in six straight contests, will make the return trip to Boston on Sunday for a 12 p.m. tip at the Cabot Center.
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Team Stats
NE
UMass
FG%
.531
.500
3FG%
.385
.391
FT%
.786
.630
RB
33
32
TO
18
9
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Pts
31
FGM
13
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
23
FGM
9
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
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