Early Second Half Run Guides Davidson Past UMass, 77-67

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team held a one-point lead at the half over Davidson before the Wildcats strung together an early second half run to help them take control in a 77-67 contest on Tuesday evening.

T.J. Weeks Jr. scored nine straight points as part of a 12-0 UMass run to give the Minutemen a 23-11 lead with 11:48 left in the first following a back-and-forth start to the game. Weeks scored 12 points in the opening nine minutes of action on 3-of-4 from deep and finished with 21 points and a season-high five made 3-pointers.

UMass opened the night by connecting on six of its first 11 shots from 3-point land and finished the night 14-of-33 from range.

Davidson answered back with scoring run of their own, a 9-0 run to bring the Wildcats back within three at 23-20 in route to a 32-31 finish to the opening half. UMass held the second-best 3-point shooting team in the nation percentage wise to a 5-of-15 effort in the first half before a 6-of-11 second half brought them to 42-percent in the game. The 31 points surrendered in the first half was the second-lowest in the first half of the season.

The Wildcats made eight of their first nine shots from the field in the second half and went on a 12-0 run to take a 51-39 lead four minutes into the second half. A Weeks fastbreak 3-pointer with just over 10 minutes remaining helped cap off a quick 6-0 Minuteman run to get back within six points.

After going back down by double figures, Noah Fernandes converted a three-point play to make it a two-possession game with 1:34 left at 73-67 before Davidson closed out the night with three straight points. Fernandes scored nine of his 19 points in the first eight minutes of the second half and added five rebounds, and nine assists.

Rich Kelly added 14 points on 4-of-6 from deep while Trent Buttrick finished with his first career double double as he scored 10 points and hauled in 10 rebounds.

The Minutemen return home to the Mullins Center on Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. tip-off against Rhode Island.

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.

Scoreboard

Next Event

Team Stats

T.J. Weeks Jr.

Noah Fernandes

Rich Kelly

Trent Buttrick

Players Mentioned

Trent Buttrick

Noah Fernandes

Rich Kelly

T.J. Weeks Jr.

Players Mentioned

Trent Buttrick

Noah Fernandes

Rich Kelly

T.J. Weeks Jr.

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics