UMass defeats Ball State 79-71
UMass Edges Ball State Behind Strong Team Effort
In a closely contested conference matchup, the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team (HOME) secured a hard-fought 79-71 victory over visiting Ball State at the Mullins Center on Monday night.
The game was a testament to the Minutemen's well-rounded performance, as they utilized a balanced attack to outlast their opponents. UMass' Leonardo Bettiol led the way with 20 points, hitting an impressive 77.8% of his field goal attempts. Daniel Hankins-Sanford chipped in with 10 rebounds and 10 points, while Danny Carbuccia added 6 assists.
On the other side, Ball State's Davion Hill was unstoppable, scoring 22 points at a 69.2% clip from the field. The Cardinals' defense struggled to contain Hill, who also contributed 7 rebounds and 2 assists.
Despite Ball State's strong individual performance, UMass' team effort ultimately proved decisive. The Minutemen outrebounded their opponents 36-28 and committed fewer turnovers (12 vs 10). They also demonstrated significant strength in the paint, scoring 26 points against Ball State's defense.
The game saw several key moments that turned the tide in favor of UMass. In the first half, the home team built a 11-point lead before Ball State trimmed it to just two points at halftime. The Minutemen responded by increasing their advantage to 11 points again in the second half, a lead they maintained until the final minutes.
Advanced Statistics Reveal UMass' Dominance
A closer look at advanced statistics reveals just how well UMass performed against Ball State. The Minutemen outshot their opponents from the field (48.0% vs 45.0%) and from three-point range (38.0% vs 35.0%). They also converted a higher percentage of free throws (69.0% vs 72.0%), which proved significant in the game's final minutes.
Moreover, UMass demonstrated exceptional efficiency on offense, scoring at an eFG% of 56.7%. On defense, they limited Ball State to just 51.8%, preventing them from reaching their full scoring potential.
Conclusion
In a tightly contested conference matchup, UMass' balanced attack and strong defensive effort ultimately secured the win over visiting Ball State. With several key players contributing to both offense and defense, the Minutemen proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in the conference.