AMHERST, Mass. – Redshirt sophomore Jordan Price scored 23 of his 30 points in the second half but the La Salle men's basketball team fell short in a 66-59 loss at Massachusetts on Sunday at the Mullins Center. The Explorers were able to cut the deficit to four on several occasions in the second half but were unable to make it a one-possession game.

"We really were really not good in the first half and it was all mental," head coach Dr. John Giannini said. "In the second half I thought we were fine. Our kids really fought hard and I was proud of their effort."
 
The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for La Salle, while the win was the fourth straight for UMass (14-10, 7-3 A-10).

Price fell just one point short of matching his career-high of 31 points set at Towson on December 20, 2014. He is the first Atlantic 10 player with three 30-point games this season and the first Explorer with three 30-point games in a season since Steven Smith did so during the 2005-06 season.

The Decatur, Ga. native shot 10-for-20 from the field and scored more than half of his team's points. He was 8-for-9 from the foul line.

Senior Steve Zack grabbed 13 rebounds, his 12th double-digit rebounding game of the season and fifth straight. Junior Khalid Lewis had eight points while senior Jerrell Wright added seven.

Trailing by as many as 12 points in the second half, La Salle went on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 48-44 with 8:37 to play. After seeing the lead balloon up to as many as seven points, the Blue and Gold was able to cut it to four on three more occasions, once as late as 46 seconds left. Unfortunately, La Salle was unable to make it a one possession game and fell for just the second time in its past six contests.

Donte Clark had 23 points and seven rebounds to pace the Minutemen, while Cady Lalanne had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

La Salle (13-10, 5-5 A-10) remains on the road to visit VCU on Wednesday at 7 PM. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

The Explorers are back home on Saturday, February 14 vs. Davidson at 7 PM. Tickets are available by visiting www.goexplorers.com/buytickets.