Boston University
5-9
Massachusetts
8-4
UMass Defeats Men's Basketball, 71-54
December 31, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - Despite three players scoring in double figures, the Boston University men's basketball team fell to Massachusetts, 71-54, on Friday afternoon at the Mullins Center. Facing their fourth Atlantic 10 squad of the season, the Terriers drop to 5-9, while the Minutemen improve to 8-4.
Senior John Holland led BU with 17 points and moves past Corey Lowe ('10) for third-place all-time with 1,817 career points for the Terriers. Junior Darryl Partin and freshman D.J. Irving each had 12 points, while junior Jeff Pelage had a game-high eight rebounds. Classmate Jake O'Brien added eight points and seven boards before suffering a leg injury with 16 minutes remaining in the contest.
Scoring 18 points in the second half, Anthony Gurley led UMass with 21 points and eight rebounds. Sampson Carter contributed 10 points and eight rebounds as well to help the Minutemen win the rebound battle, 46-38. UMass shot just 36.1 percent from the field but went 20-of-25 (.800) at the charity stripe.
Ahead 49-47 with 10 minutes remaining in regulation, UMass scored the next 13 points over the following five minutes and did not see the lead cut below 13 the rest of the contest for the victory.
Missing its first 12 field goal attempts to start the game, BU trailed 15-2 following back-to-back 3-pointers from Freddie Riley with 12 minutes left in the first half. O'Brien helped the Terriers chip into the lead with two treys of his own, and Holland eventually tied the game at 21-21 with 3:21 remaining.
The in-state rivals meeting for the first time since 2007 exchanged baskets to enter the half tied, 25-25. Irving's 3-pointer at 17:33 in the second gave BU a 32-30 advantage, but Gurley erased the trey and an Irving layup with two 3-pointers to put UMass ahead for good, 36-34.
Seeing the lead pushed to 45-36 with 14:23 on the clock, Holland helped the Terriers rally again with seven straight points off two made free throws, a 3-pointer and a dunk off an alley-oop pass from Irving at 12:12. After exchanging baskets, the Minutemen would then go on the 13-0 run en route to the victory.
Dropping to 29-42 all-time against the Minutemen, BU finished the game 18-of-57 (.316) from the field and 13-of-22 (.591) at the line. The Terriers were even with UMass in turnovers at 11 apiece.
With one non-conference game remaining in the BracketBusters, BU will next start the America East schedule at Maine on Sunday, Jan. 2, at 1 p.m.
