UMass defeats UMass-Boston 91-40
UMass Dominates in Statement Win Over Visiting UMass-Boston
The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team put on a clinic, dominating their non-conference opponent UMass-Boston 91-40 at home in the Mullins Center on Tuesday evening.
The story of the game was simple: UMass was too much for UMass-Boston to handle. The Minutemen led by as many as 53 points in the second half and never looked back, showcasing their superiority over a pesky but outmatched opponent.
In the first half, the home team took an early lead, with Leonardo Bettiol scoring 10 of his 20 points before halftime. UMass-Boston struggled to find its rhythm, missing 9 of its 12 three-point attempts in the period.
The visitors showed some life in the second half, but it was too little, too late. Davon Sanders led the way for UMass-Boston with 5 assists and 5 rebounds, while Raphel Laurent paced the Minutemen with 19 points on 2-9 three-point shooting.
For UMass, Leonardo Bettiol led the charge with 20 points, followed closely by Luka Damjanac with 12 points and 7 rebounds. The team's bench also contributed, outscoring their opponents 27-8 in a decisive display of depth.
The advanced statistics told a similar story. UMass shot an efficient 52.0% from the field, while UMass-Boston struggled to find its mark at just 29.8%. The Minutemen also controlled the paint, scoring 60 points against the visitors' 20.
The final margin of 51 points was one of the largest in a non-conference game this season, and it marked a statement win for Coach Mike Ryan's team as they prepare for conference play.
For UMass-Boston, the loss serves as a wake-up call for the young program. The Minutemen, meanwhile, will look to build on their dominant performance and take advantage of the momentum heading into conference play.
Box Score:
UMass (HOME) | UMass-Boston (AWAY)
* Field Goals: 37/76 (49.0%) | 15/57 (26.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 32/50 (64.0%) | 11/30 (36.7%)
* 3-Point FG: 5/26 (19.0%) | 4/27 (15.0%)
* Free Throws: 12/19 (63.0%) | 6/10 (60.0%)
* Rebounds: 66 | 21
* Assists: 28 | 8
* Turnovers: 14 | 15
* Steals: 9 | 9
* Blocks: 2 | 3
Total Points: 91 | 40