Five Finish In Double Figures As #10 UMass Advances To A-10 Quarterfinals

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Noah Fernandes led five Minutemen in double figures as the No. 10 seed UMass men's basketball team advanced to the Atlantic 10 Championship quarterfinals with a 99-88 win over No. 7 seed George Washington on Thursday at the Capital One Arena. The Minutemen (15-16 Overall) shot over 56-percent from the field and from 3-point range in the first half on their way to a season-high 56 points in the first 20 minutes.

T.J. Weeks paced the UMass offense early by scoring 12 of the first 19 points. Weeks scored all 15 of his points in the opening half after running into foul trouble early in the second and helped the Minutemen to a 22-9 lead.

Fernandes scored 12 points in the opening half and added 17 in the second to reach a new career-high for the second consecutive game after scoring 28 at George Mason in the regular season finale. The guard finished 11-of-17 from the field and added seven assists and a career-high seven steals, including five in the first 20 minutes as the Minutemen led by 20 at the break.

George Washington shot over 56-percent in the second half and used an 8-0 run to get within 12 with 5:18 remaining. The Colonials trimmed the Minuteman advantage to 11 at 91-80 with 4:44 left on a Joe Bamisile triple. Bamisile led GW with 25 points while Brayon Freeman added 18.

The Minutemen hauled in two offensive rebounds the following possession to lead to a Fernandes jumper followed by a Rich Kelly layup moments later to stretch the lead back to 15. Kelly finished with 13 points and added five assists.

Trent Buttrick led the game with a career-high 16 rebounds to mark the first time in over two years that a Minuteman has brought in more than 15. Buttrick added 13 points on 5-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-5 from range as UMass knocked down 12 from behind the arc.

C.J. Kelly added 15 points in 23 minutes off the bench and finished the evening 5-of-7 from the field.

The Minutemen continue A-10 Championship action tomorrow with a quarterfinals matchup against No. 2 seed Dayton at 6 p.m. on USA.

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

Five Finish In Double Figures As #10 UMass Advances To A-10 Quarterfinals

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Team Stats

Noah Fernandes

C.J. Kelly

T.J. Weeks Jr.

Trent Buttrick

Players Mentioned

Trent Buttrick

Noah Fernandes

C.J. Kelly

Rich Kelly

Players Mentioned

Trent Buttrick

Noah Fernandes

C.J. Kelly

Rich Kelly

Scoreboard

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