December 19, 2012 - Ohio at UMass

• Season: 2012-13
• Date: Wednesday, December 19, 2012
• Opponent: Ohio
• Start Time: 7:30 PM ET
• Site: William D. Mullins Memorial Center
• Special Event: none
• Television: none
• Streaming video: UMass All-Access
• Radio / Streaming audio: UMass Radio Network

• Result: UMass 85, Ohio 76
• Attendance: 3,821 (capacity: 9,493, 40.3% full)

UMass Game Notes

Point guard battle on tap for UMass basketball
Scouting report

Derek Kellogg still seeks answers for Minutemen's shooting woes

See the UMassHoops.com Message Board thread for pre-game and post-game discussion.

Morgan's 35 Points Lead UMass Hoops To 85-76 Win Over Ohio
Philly native's 24 points in first half set new Mullins Center record
From UMass Athletics, 12/19/2012

AMHERST, Mass. - Jesse Morgan scored a career-high 35 points including a Mullins Center record 24 in the first half as the UMass men's basketball team defeated Ohio 85-76 on Wednesday night. The first half performance sparked a key 23-to-1 run for the Minutemen helping them overcome a hot start for the Bobcats.

Morgan's shooting performance was the 11th-best scoring effort by a player in the country this season and the most from an Atlantic 10 player. The Philadelphia native finished the game hitting 12-of-18 from the floor and 7-of-10 from behind the arc.

Ohio (7-4) hit six of its first eight field goals in the game taking an 18-6 lead at the 14:48 mark of the first half. The Bobcats went silent for a seven minute, 18 second stretch from that point missing eight straight field goals and committing five turnovers.

While the Bobcats struggled, Morgan and UMass (6-3) heated up with the 23-to-1 run to take a 29-19 lead with 8:04 to go. Morgan had 22 of his 24 points in a six minute, 22 second span that helped swing the balance in favor of the Minutemen.

In the second half, Ohio was able to tie the game 53-53 on a D.J. Cooper three-pointer from the right wing in the first five minutes of play. Another trio of treys for Morgan pushed the Minutemen back ahead 66-55 as UMass went on a 13-to-2 run which proved a difference maker down the stretch.

The Bobcats managed to cut the lead back down to six, 78-72, with just over four minutes left in the game, but a Maxie Esho steal and fast break dunk ended any momentum Ohio had.

Cady Lalanne finished with his first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Despite having just nine points, Chaz Williams finished with eight assists.

Cooper led Ohio with 23 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. Walter Offutt scored 18 points, while Nick Kellogg added 15 points.

The Minutemen will return to action on Saturday at the Mullins Center against East Carolina at 1:30 PM.

NOTES

• UMass scored a season-high 85 points.
• Jesse Morgan finished with a career-high 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. His 35 points scored is the most by any Atlantic 10 player and tied for 11th in the NCAA this season.
• Morgan's 35 points falls just shy of the Mullins Center record of 38 set back in 1996 by Marcus Camby. Billy Tindall set the school record in 1968 with 41 points.
• Morgan's seven three-point field goals are the most for any UMass player since Ricky Harris set the school record, with eight, in 2010.
• Morgan finished the first half with 24 points setting a new Mullins Center record, knocking off the previous mark of 22 by Anthony Anderson in 2003. The most points in any half was 29 set by Julius Erving on January 28, 1970 against Boston University.
• Twenty-two of Morgan's 24 first half points came in a span of 6 minutes, 22 seconds.
• UMass' 23-1 run in the first half was its longest of the season.
• Cady Lalanne recorded his first career double-double. He tied his career high of 12 points on 3-of-6 from the field and a career best 6-of-8 from the charity stripe. Lalanne was also able to pull down a game-high 11 rebounds.
• Chaz Williams' 26-consecutive game double-digit scoring streak ended, as the redshirt-junior finished with nine points and eight assists.
• Trey Davis recorded his first career assist on a pick-and-roll dunk to Maxie Esho in the first half.
• The Minutemen finished the first half shooting 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from three-point land. It is their highest mark in a half this season.

Jesse Morgan takes over in win for UMass men's hoop
Cady Lalanne continues to improve for Minutemen after suspension

Jesse Morgan's journey to 35 points

Jesse Morgan's career high 35 points ride Minutemen to win over Ohio

Jesse Morgan's magic lifts UMass past Ohio

Minutemen survive Bobcats

Morgan powers UMass basketball in win over Ohio University

Minutemen bop Bobcats

Morgan's career night sparks UMass

Ohio's road struggles continue

• Photo gallery: UMass Athletics
• Video: Highlights
• Video: Press Conference
• Buy game on DVD

Available at UMassAthletics.com