URI Falls Just Short at UMass, Lose 60-56
GoLocalProv Sports Team
URI Falls Just Short at UMass, Lose 60-56
See the five takeaways slideshow below.
URI led 53-47 with 6:22 to play in the game and were in good shape until UMass went on a 10-0 run to take a 57-53 lead. The Rams cut their deficit to one, 57-56, but going with a small lineup at the end of the game proved costly for Dan Hurley.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWith under a minute to go, UMass had the ball and Trey Davis missed a three-pointer, UMass's Maxie Esho got the offensive rebound and kicked it out to Donte Clark who missed a three-pointer and again UMass grabbed an offensive rebound.
Donte Clark ended up getting fouled by Jared Terrell and knocked down both free throws to put UMass up 59-56. URI's T.J. Buchanan turned the ball over in the Rams final possession and UMass sealed the game at the free throw line.
The Leaders.
URI was led by Hassan Martin who netted 13 points and six rebounds while E.C. Matthews followed up with 11 points and six rebounds.
UMass was led by Maxie Esho who posted a game high 18 points to give UMass their seventh straight win over URI.
Next up.
URI returns to action on Thursday, January 22 when they host La Salle at the Ryan Center. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.
For a further look at the Rams loss, see the five takeaways slideshow below.
Five Takeaways From URI's 60-56 Loss to UMass
Hassan Martin
Hassan Martin led the Rams with 13 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field and six rebounds in the game.
Martin also blocked four shots however he only played five minutes in the first half due to foul trouble.
This marks the third straight game, and sixth of the last seven, in which Martin has gotten himself into double-figures.
Early foul trouble likely cost him a double-double. This was the first game in the last four in which Martin didn't get into double-figures in rebounding.
Lineup change
URI senior Biggie Minnis was taken out of the starting lineup in this game and replaced with Jarvis Garrett.
Garrett played 27 minutes and had three points, all on free throws, but he did dish out six assists and grab two rebounds.
Meanwhile, Minnis had five points and one assist in 16 minutes off the bench.
Minnis averaged four points, three rebounds and two assists in his time this season as a starter.
Garrett averages five points, two rebounds and two assists this season coming off the bench in every game except this one.
Interesting lineup change.
Turnovers and points off
URI turned the ball over 15 times in the game, six coming on UMass steals, and the Minutemen scored 19 points off of those turnovers.
E.C. Matthews led the Rams with four turnovers in the game.
URI only managed ten points off of UMass's ten turnovers.
Second chance points
One of the major reasons why URI couldn't hold on for the win is because they gave UMass numerous second chances and it really did cost them at the end of the game. (see next slide)
UMass grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and that helped lead to 18 second chance points.
Meanwhile, URI seven offensive rebounds but it only led to three second chance points.
Better defensive rebounding and better offensive execution and this game may have had a different result.
Going Small proves costly
The Rams cut their four point deficit to one, 57-56, but going with a small lineup at the end of the game proved costly for Dan Hurley.
With under a minute to go, UMass had the ball and Trey Davis missed a three-pointer, UMass's Maxie Esho got the offensive rebound and kicked it out to Donte Clark who missed a three-pointer and again UMass grabbed an offensive rebound.
Donte Clark ended up getting fouled by Jared Terrell and knocked down both free throws to put UMass up 59-56.
If URI is able to grab any one of those rebounds, the outcome could have been different.
