University of Massachusets Athletics
Wednesday, December 16
Philadelphia, Pa.
12 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
2-1,1-0Atlantic 10
85
at
66
La Salle
2-4,0-1Atlantic 10
1
2
F
Massachusetts
36
49
85
La Salle
35
31
66
Mitchell's 37 Points, Fernandes' Nine Assists Lead UMass Over La Salle, 85-66
December 16, 2020 | Men's Basketball
Mitchell ties the eighth-most points in a single-game in UMass history
PHILADELPHIA – A dominating effort from Tre Mitchell was the story for the UMass men's basketball team (2-1, 1-0), which led by one point at halftime before feeding the sophomore center throughout the final 20 minutes to balloon its lead to as many as 21 in an 85-66 victory at La Salle (2-4, 0-1) on Wednesday afternoon at Gola Arena.
Â
Mitchell finished with 37 points on 13-of-17 shooting, his fourth career 30-point effort in just 34 career games and tied for the eighth most in a single-game in UMass history. La Salle had no answer for the Mitchell – Noah Fernandes combination as the sophomore point guard finished with 11 points, a game-high nine assists, zero turnovers and five steals.
Â
UMass shot 48% from the floor (29-of-60) and 11-of-28 from deep. Captain Carl Pierre joined Mitchell and Fernandes in double figures with 14 points, cracking the top-30 in career points at UMass with 1197 points. Cairo McCrory added seven points and a game-high nine rebounds off the bench to help UMass win its A-10 opener for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Â
The Minutemen came out hot, with Pierre hitting each of his first four shots including three straight from beyond the arc to give the visitors a 23-17 lead through the opening 10 minutes, its largest lead of the half.
Â
La Salle, though, would use a pair of 7-0 runs to erase the deficit and take a six-point lead of its own with four minutes to go in the first half, capped by a three-pointer from Spencer to give the Explorers a 31-25 lead.
Â
The Minutemen responded with a strong finish to the half coming out of the final media timeout, closing on an 11-4 run to give Massachusetts a 36-35 advantage at recess highlighted by a deep three from Fernandes with 1:21 left. Mitchell finished the half with 12 points, followed closely by Pierre with 11.
Â
Mitchell put the team on his back in the second half, continuing to work down low to create space as he went above the 30-point mark for the second time this season. The Minutemen used an 11-0 run, with eight points coming from Mitchell, to go up by 13 at 60-47 with 13:13 to go in regulation before going up by as many as 14 midway through the second half as Mitchell and Fernandes continued to connect.
Â
Massachusetts will be back in action on Monday when the Minutemen host Bryant at the Mullins Center. Tip time is still to be determined, and the game will be televised live on NESN and ESPN+.
Â
Â
Mitchell finished with 37 points on 13-of-17 shooting, his fourth career 30-point effort in just 34 career games and tied for the eighth most in a single-game in UMass history. La Salle had no answer for the Mitchell – Noah Fernandes combination as the sophomore point guard finished with 11 points, a game-high nine assists, zero turnovers and five steals.
Â
UMass shot 48% from the floor (29-of-60) and 11-of-28 from deep. Captain Carl Pierre joined Mitchell and Fernandes in double figures with 14 points, cracking the top-30 in career points at UMass with 1197 points. Cairo McCrory added seven points and a game-high nine rebounds off the bench to help UMass win its A-10 opener for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Â
The Minutemen came out hot, with Pierre hitting each of his first four shots including three straight from beyond the arc to give the visitors a 23-17 lead through the opening 10 minutes, its largest lead of the half.
Â
La Salle, though, would use a pair of 7-0 runs to erase the deficit and take a six-point lead of its own with four minutes to go in the first half, capped by a three-pointer from Spencer to give the Explorers a 31-25 lead.
Â
The Minutemen responded with a strong finish to the half coming out of the final media timeout, closing on an 11-4 run to give Massachusetts a 36-35 advantage at recess highlighted by a deep three from Fernandes with 1:21 left. Mitchell finished the half with 12 points, followed closely by Pierre with 11.
Â
Mitchell put the team on his back in the second half, continuing to work down low to create space as he went above the 30-point mark for the second time this season. The Minutemen used an 11-0 run, with eight points coming from Mitchell, to go up by 13 at 60-47 with 13:13 to go in regulation before going up by as many as 14 midway through the second half as Mitchell and Fernandes continued to connect.
Â
Massachusetts will be back in action on Monday when the Minutemen host Bryant at the Mullins Center. Tip time is still to be determined, and the game will be televised live on NESN and ESPN+.
Â
Team Stats
UMass
LaS
FG%
.483
.466
3FG%
.393
.421
FT%
.696
.400
RB
37
32
TO
11
15
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
37
FGM
13
3FGM
2
FTM
9
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballJust Being Frank Season 3; Episode 6
Friday, September 05
Just Being Frank Season 3; Episode 5
Monday, July 28
Just Being Frank Season 3; Episode 4
Thursday, June 19
Just Being Frank Season 3; Episode 3
Tuesday, June 10