E Michigan defeats UMass 79-74

UMass Falls Just Short in Thrilling Conference Matchup at E Michigan

In a back-and-forth contest that showcased the grit and determination of both teams, UMass (AWAY) came up just short against E Michigan (HOME), ultimately falling 79-74 on New Year's Eve.

The primary storyline of this matchup centered around an epic comeback by the home team. Trailing 41-38 at halftime, E Michigan erased a three-point deficit to take a commanding 8-point lead into the final frame. Despite their own struggles from the free throw line, E Michigan continued to push the tempo and outscore UMass in the paint, ultimately holding on for a five-point victory.

In terms of performance, Carlos Hart led the charge for E Michigan with 23 points, including one three-pointer, while grabbing a team-high 12 rebounds. His supporting cast also chipped in with six assists from Mohammad Habhab, who added 20 points and nine rebounds to his tally.

For UMass, Daniel Hankins-Sanford paced the offense with 18 points, along with 11 rebounds, but struggled to find consistency on the perimeter, going 0-5 from three-point range. Danny Carbuccia led the team in assists with six helpers, while also contributing eight points and two steals.

The advanced statistics paint a nuanced picture of this matchup. E Michigan's eFG% (48.2%) was marginally better than UMass' (44.3%), but both teams struggled from beyond the arc, with E Michigan hitting just three of 12 attempts (25.0%). In contrast, UMass shot 46.7% from two-point range, while E Michigan managed a slightly lower rate at 51.2%.

The largest lead for either team came at the midpoint, when E Michigan held an 8-point advantage. Despite the late surge by UMass, they were unable to overcome the deficit and fell just short.

This matchup was significant due to its conference implications, with both teams vying for a crucial win in their respective standings.