Fernandes Scores Career-High 21 In Loss To Weber State

SAINT PETERSBURG, Fla. – Junior guard Noah Fernandes scored a career-high 21 points as the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team fell in its opening game of the Jersey Mike's Classic to Weber State on Thursday evening, 88-73. The Minutemen (2-2 Overall) used a 6-0 run to take a 32-26 lead with just over four minutes left in the first half before Weber State (3-0 Overall) answered with a 16-2 run that stretched into the second half to take control.

A back-and-forth first half saw seven lead changes and four ties while eight different Minutemen made field goals, including six with at least one 3-pointer. Fernandes came up with a steal followed by a layup at the other end to force a Wildcat timeout at the 4:11 to give UMass its largest lead of the night.

The Wildcats made eight of their first nine shots to start the second half as their lead extended to double digits for the first time with 17:14 remaining at 46-36.

Fernandes had the first nine UMass points of the second half as he poured in 17 of his 21 points in the final 20 minutes of play. The junior finished 9-of-17 from the field and made a pair of 3-pointers for a Minuteman squad that shot nearly 52-percent in the second half.

Trent Buttrick and C.J. Kelly put in back-to-back triples to trim the Weber State lead down to single digits with 12:20 left. Buttrick finished with 12 points, three rebounds, and four assists while C.J. Kelly added 11 points and five boards.

Fernandes brought UMass back within eight on a jumper with 8:05 remaining and connected from range the following possession to bring the Minutemen within seven before an 8-0 Wildcat run extended their lead to 15.

The Minutemen shot 45-percent for the game while Weber State shot just under 59-percent, including a 69-percent clip in the second half.

UMass continues action at the Jersey Mike's Classic tomorrow against UNC Greensboro at 3 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

For complete coverage of the UMass men's basketball team, follow the Minutemen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassBasketball and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.

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Next Event

Team Stats

Noah Fernandes

Trent Buttrick

C.J. Kelly

Rich Kelly

Players Mentioned

Trent Buttrick

Noah Fernandes

C.J. Kelly

Players Mentioned

Trent Buttrick

Noah Fernandes

C.J. Kelly

Scoreboard

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