Jan. 24, 2009

 

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AMHERST, Mass. (AP) - Rodney Green scored 22 points and made clutch contributions in the second half to help La Salle to a 62-54 win over Massachusetts on Saturday.

The Explorers (11-7, 2-2 Atlantic 10 Conference) were clinging to a 51-50 lead when Green made back-to-back baskets to preserve the victory.   Within one point, the Minutemen had four trips down the floor with the opportunity to grab the lead.  On two of the possessions they grabbed offensive rebounds after initial misses but were turned away on each bid to go ahead until the Explorers built another cushion.

La Salle dominated the first half, leading by as many as 13 points (33-20) near the intermission, but a 6-0 UMass run cut the lead almost in half at 34-28 for halftime.

The Explorers held Umass to 14.3 shooting from beyond the arc including just 1-11 in the first half.

Kimmani Barrett, who scored the first bucket of each half, was held to just three first half points but finished with eight in the second half including a pair of free throws in the closing minutes to help seal the deal.

UMass (7-ll, 2-3 A-10) was in front only three times, the last at 10-9 in the early minutes.

Tony Gaffney led the Minutemen with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Chris Lowe added 10 points and three assists.

Yves Mekongo Mbala was one free throw shy of a double double with a line of nine points and 10 rebounds.  He also had three assists and a steal.

The loss is UMass' first home A-10 defeat of the season and the first to the Explorers at the Mullins Center since the 2005-06 season.

The Explorers continue A-10 play with a 7:00 PM home tip-off against George Washington on Wednesday night at Tom Gola Arena.