University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, February 15
Amherst, Mass.
12:30 PM
University of Massachusetts
10-15 (4-8)
63
vs
71
Dayton
23-2 (12-0)
1
2
F
Dayton
31
40
71
Massachusetts
26
37
63
No. 6 Dayton Hangs On To Top UMass, 71-63, Despite 26 Points From Mitchell
February 15, 2020 | Men's Basketball
Tre Mitchell finished with a game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds
AMHERST, Mass. – Freshman Tre Mitchell went toe-to-toe against one of the top players in the nation in Dayton's Obi Toppin, finishing with a game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds to set the pace for a UMass men's basketball team (10-15, 4-8) that took the No. 6 Flyers (23-2, 12-0) down to the wire before Dayton ultimately prevailed on Saturday afternoon in front of 5,030 at the Mullins Center, 71-63.
Mitchell finished the night 11-of-22 from the floor to record his third double-double of the season to lead the Minutemen, who clawed back from a 16-point deficit late in the second half to bring the game within four in the final minute. Toppin had 19 points (8-of-13 shooting) and seven rebounds on the day, while Jalen Crutcher had 17 on 5-of-11 shooting and five assists, including 11 straight points midway through the second half to give the Flyers a double-digit lead.
UMass shot 38% from the floor (24-of-63), including a 4-of-20 day from three, while Dayton was 27-of-51 (53%) overall and 7-of-13 from deep.
It was the Mitchell and Toppin show early in the first half with the two big men going punch for punch on either end of the floor, with Mitchell starting 4-of-6 for nine points and Toppin with eight (3-of-4) through the opening eight minutes, with the Minutemen holding a three-point lead.
From there, Dayton used a 15-0 run over nearly nine minutes to go up 25-15 with four minutes to play thanks to six points from Jordy Tshimanga (six points). The Minutemen, though, responded with an 11-3 run on 3-of-5 shooting with Mitchell back in the lineup, capped by a three from Carl Pierre (nine points) in the corner to bring UMass within two before Toppin drilled a three at the buzzer to give the Flyers a 31-26 edge at the break.
After Mitchell brought UMass within three out of the half, Dayton rattled off an 11-4 over the next 4:22 to extend its lead to 42-32. Dibaji Walker (seven points) went to work seven minutes in, burying a three before adding a layup two minutes later to cut the deficit to five. But Crutcher caught fire midway through the half, scoring 11 straight on three consecutive threes along with a jumper to make it 57-43 Flyers with seven minutes to go.
Massachusetts continued to battle, though, trimming the Dayton lead from 16 all the way down to four with 14 seconds to go on a Pierre layup, but the Flyers would hit their free throws down the stretch to hold on.
The Minutemen will close out its three-game homestand on Tuesday night when UMass hosts Saint Louis at the Mullins Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on NESN.
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.
Mitchell finished the night 11-of-22 from the floor to record his third double-double of the season to lead the Minutemen, who clawed back from a 16-point deficit late in the second half to bring the game within four in the final minute. Toppin had 19 points (8-of-13 shooting) and seven rebounds on the day, while Jalen Crutcher had 17 on 5-of-11 shooting and five assists, including 11 straight points midway through the second half to give the Flyers a double-digit lead.
UMass shot 38% from the floor (24-of-63), including a 4-of-20 day from three, while Dayton was 27-of-51 (53%) overall and 7-of-13 from deep.
It was the Mitchell and Toppin show early in the first half with the two big men going punch for punch on either end of the floor, with Mitchell starting 4-of-6 for nine points and Toppin with eight (3-of-4) through the opening eight minutes, with the Minutemen holding a three-point lead.
From there, Dayton used a 15-0 run over nearly nine minutes to go up 25-15 with four minutes to play thanks to six points from Jordy Tshimanga (six points). The Minutemen, though, responded with an 11-3 run on 3-of-5 shooting with Mitchell back in the lineup, capped by a three from Carl Pierre (nine points) in the corner to bring UMass within two before Toppin drilled a three at the buzzer to give the Flyers a 31-26 edge at the break.
After Mitchell brought UMass within three out of the half, Dayton rattled off an 11-4 over the next 4:22 to extend its lead to 42-32. Dibaji Walker (seven points) went to work seven minutes in, burying a three before adding a layup two minutes later to cut the deficit to five. But Crutcher caught fire midway through the half, scoring 11 straight on three consecutive threes along with a jumper to make it 57-43 Flyers with seven minutes to go.
Massachusetts continued to battle, though, trimming the Dayton lead from 16 all the way down to four with 14 seconds to go on a Pierre layup, but the Flyers would hit their free throws down the stretch to hold on.
The Minutemen will close out its three-game homestand on Tuesday night when UMass hosts Saint Louis at the Mullins Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on NESN.
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.
Team Stats
UD
UMASS
FG%
.529
.381
3FG%
.538
.200
FT%
.588
.688
RB
35
31
TO
17
9
STL
5
8
Game Leaders
Pts
26
FGM
11
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
C
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