Men's Basketball Travels to UMass Friday
December 30, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2010
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BOSTON - Ending the year by renewing an old rivalry, the Boston University men's basketball team will drive to UMass on Friday for a 2 p.m. showdown. Facing their fourth Atlantic 10 team of the season, the Terriers (5-8) have wins over George Washington and Saint Joseph's with the three-point loss coming against La Salle.
The New Year's Eve contest marks the 71st meeting between BU and the Minutemen (7-4) and first since 2007. UMass leads 41-29 and has won the last 10 games in a series dating back to Jan. 25, 1904. They last faced off at the Mullins Center in 2007 with the Terriers falling 70-61 after a 56-54 loss at Agganis Arena in 2006.
Having snapped a 10-game losing streak against the Colonials and six-game losing streak to the Hawks this season, BU enters the game with two 1,000-point scorers in America East preseason all-conference honorees John Holland and Jake O'Brien. Leading the league in scoring at 18.6 ppg, Holland is one rebound shy of becoming just the 10th player in conference history to record at least 1,800 points and 600 rebounds. O'Brien has 1,012 points and ranks fifth all-time at BU in blocks with 84.
Averaging a combined 30.5 ppg, they will look to the 11 newcomers for offensive support. Over the last four games, junior and reigning America East Player of the Week Darryl Partin has averaged 18.5 ppg and become the all-important third scorer. He currently ranks second on the team at 12.3 ppg. Freshman D.J. Irving has reached double figures four times but has taken the role of the team's facilitator, recording 20 assists against just four turnovers during the same timespan.
On the defensive end, BU has allowed more than 79 points in four consecutive games. Looking to help the Terriers get back on track will be junior Jeff Pelage, who has started the last two contests while getting back into last season's form after missing the first 11 due to injury. He ranked 13th in the conference in rebounding at 5.6 rpg. BU has only been out rebounded by 1.5 boards a contest, but teams are shooting 42 percent from the field.
Leading the Minutemen's offense is senior guard Anthony Gurley, who is averaging 20.5 ppg and has 1,196 careers points. Forward Sampson Carter averages 10.0 ppg and a team-high 5.4 rpg, while guard Freddie Riley contributes 10.8 ppg off the bench. They helped UMass begin the season with a 7-0 mark, the program's best start since 1995-96.
Following the contest, BU will next start the conference slate at Maine on Sunday, Jan. 2, at 1 p.m. Both teams finished tied-for-third in the conference standings last year at 11-5.
