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Minutemen Impress in Road Victory Riley, Gurley lead the way offensively
Massachusetts is known offensively primarily for the scoring prowess of senior guard Anthony Gurley, who averages nearly 20 points per game on the season. But while Gurley certainly produced, finishing with 17 points, the offensive star at Halton Arena was substitute Freddie Riley. Riley scored a game-high 18 points, making 7 of 12 shots, and Javorn Farrell added 11 points, seven rebound and three assists in UMass’ 73-54 win at Charlotte. But the defense may have been the bigger star for the Minutemen as they held the 49ers to 32% shooting from the field and 7-for-22 from deep. Derrio Green led the 49ers (8-10, 1-3) with 12 points but made just two of ten shots from the field as UMass was able to harass the senior into an off night. “I think the fact that we made some shots early was good because it got us into an offensive rhythm,” said Charlotte head coach Alan Major. “But I think we hung onto it a little too much in terms of jump shooting. It got the game going at a pace that probably fit them a bit more than it did us.”
The win, the second in a row for UMass, moved the visitors to 3-1 (11-6 overall) in Atlantic 10 play for the first time since the 2006-07 season. The 49ers led for much of the first ten minutes of the first ten minutes of the game with UMass taking a 24-23 lead on a Sean Carter layup with 9:19 remaining in the half. From that point forward the Minutemen would outscore Charlotte 11-4 to take a 35-27 lead into the break with Riley scoring the last seven points of the half. The halftime message from Coach Major had to be to work the ball inside, which is exactly what Charlotte did to start the second half with a Javarris Barnett dunk kicking off the scoring. An’Juan Wilderness closed the 49ers to within three points with a layup to make the score 39-36 UMass with 16:24 remaining, but that would be as close as they’d get the rest of the contest. After a Gurley three pointer made the score 50-41 with 9:40 left in the game the Minutemen allowed their frontcourt to go to work while Charlotte failed to work the ball inside on a consistent basis, but the dagger came from Freddie Riley. Riley knocked down a three pointer following a Carter missed dunk to put UMass up by 14 (59-44) with 5:44 remaining, and the Minutemen would lead by no fewer than 13 points as they made their march either into the paint or two the foul line for many of their remaining possessions. Next up for UMass is Richmond on Saturday at the Mullins Center while Charlotte visits Duquesne the same day.
By: Raphielle Johnson |