PHILADELPHIA – Massachusetts used a 10-0 run at the end of the first half to take control of the game and the La Salle comeback fell short in a 74-67 win for the Minutemen on Sunday at Tom Gola Arena in the A-10 opener for both teams. Redshirt junior Jordan Price had a game-high 23 points for the Explorers, while redshirt sophomore Tony Washington had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

"I am always proud of our guys and I am proud of our effort today," head coach Dr. John Giannini said. "They (Massachusetts) just made more shots and got more rebounds. They were just a little bit better. We just need each guy to make one more play. Get one more loose-ball, commit one less turnover, get one more rebound."

For Washington, it was his first career double-double. He added two blocks. Redshirt junior Cleon Roberts added 11 points while Johnnie Shuler had eight points and a career-high six assists. Sophomore Amar Stukes added eight points and four assists.
The Explorers played with seven scholarship players available, as Rohan Brown (knee injury) and Yevgen Sakhniuk (sickness) missed their second straight game.

"We aren't that far off," Giannini said. "I really love these guys, they really play hard and we are going to come back ready for the next game and no one will quit. We will get better and better until we are the kind of team we want to be. When will that happen? I don't know. I know for a fact it is going to happen. When I am not sure, but it is going to happen."

For UMass, Trey Davis had 18 points to lead the visitors (8-5, 1-0 A-10). Seth Berger and Donte Clark each added 15 while Antwan Space had 12 points and nine rebounds.

The Explorers stretched the lead to 40-32 on two free throws by Price with two minutes before halftime. UMass responded with a 10-0 run, with five points coming from Davis to take its first lead in over eight minutes.

"It was a result of defensive breakdowns and not getting back," Price said. "They got a couple open layups off our turnovers. We didn't have many turnovers but they got transition layups off our turnovers in the first half."

La Salle regained the lead at the 18:50 mark of the second half on a Shuler three-pointer but UMass used an 11-2 run over the next three minutes to take a lead it would not relinquish. The Explorers did tie the game at the 10:03 mark and was within two points at the 6:48 mark but the Minutemen converted down the stretch for the win.

The Blue and Gold (4-7, 0-1 A-10) hit the road on Wednesday to visit Fordham at 7 PM.