Massachusetts Comeback Falls Short In Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals
From UMass Athletics, 3/14/2024
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Massachusetts (20-11, 11-7 Atlantic 10) dropped a 73-59 decision to VCU (21-12, 11-7 A-10) at the Barclays Center on Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. The loss caps what otherwise was a season of tremendous growth for the program, as the Minutemen secured their first 20-win season since 2013-14 and first top-four seed in the Atlantic 10 Championship since 2007-08.
The fourth-seeded Minutemen put together a furious second-half comeback to cut what was once a 17-point lead to a two-possession game on a Rahsool Diggins three at the 4:24 mark but could not get any closer as the fifth-seeded Rams pulled away at the finish.
Diggins had a game-high 21 points on 7-for-16 shooting (4-for-10 on threes), while Josh Cohen added 14 points. Matt Cross finished with seven points to go along with a team-high eight rebounds for UMass.
The Rams were led by Zeb Jackson, who scored 17 points. VCU shot 50% from the field and was 23-for-30 from the free throw line.
Breaking Down The Action
On the game's first possession, Jayden Ndjigue pulled down an offensive board and went back up for the first points of the day.
In his first post touch, Cohen converted a three-point play to put UMass up 5-0 at 18:02.
After VCU went on a 7-0 run, Matt Cross hit a corner three at 14:23 to regain the UMass lead.
Cohen scored a tough step-through layup at the 8:17 mark to bring UMass within four.
Cross gave the Minutemen some momentum with an emphatic putback dunk with 7:45 left in the first half.
Ndjigue scored his second basket of the afternoon off an assist from Cross at 6:48.
After checking in for the first time, Marqui Worthy attacked the rim for his first points at 2:40.
In a foul-heavy first half, UMass was 10-for-14 from the line and went into halftime trailing 42-25.
In the Minutemen's first possession of the second half, Ndjigue grabbed two offensive rebounds which led to a Rahsool Diggins three.
Diggins scored the next five points to bring UMass within 12 at 16:06.
Ndjigue continued to make plays when needed most, as the freshman hit a corner three at 14:46.
A Diggins fast-break layup at 14:10 cut the VCU lead to 11 and forced a Rams timeout.
A Cohen layup at 12:52 got UMass within single digits to cap a 7-0 run.
Diggins cut the lead to 52-44 with a reverse layup in transition at 10:46.
Diggins continued with the hot hand, sinking his third three in the second half to make it 54-47.
After VCU went on a 7-2 run, Keon Thompson hit a corner three to get UMass back within ten.
Diggins added another three to make it a two-possession game at 4:24.
New Kids On The Block
Cohen led the newcomers with 14 points, going 3-of-5 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. Cohen also added six rebounds and a team-high two steals.
Ndjigue finished out his freshman season with another all-around performance, grabbing seven rebounds to go along with eight points and a pair of blocks in 29 minutes.
Guards Jaylen Curry and Marqui Worthy both came off the bench and scored crucial baskets for UMass.
Numbers To Know
4: Rahsool Diggins knocked down four three-pointers for the third consecutive game.
5: Matt Cross dished out a team-high five assists.
8: Cross also finished with a game-high eight rebounds.
21: Diggins had a game-high 21 points, 20 of which came in the second half.
24: Josh Cohen finished the contest with 14 points for his 24th game in double figures.
Year Two Under Coach Martin
Massachusetts Head Coach, Frank Martin now holds a 35-27 record leading the Minutemen.
Martin now sits with a 323-228 collegiate career record.
Series History: The Minutemen now hold an 4-10 record against the Rams dropping the 14th matchup between the two programs.
Bamisile, Jackson propel Rams past UMass, into A-10 Semis
From VCU Athletics, 3/14/2024
The short story: Senior guard Joe Bamisile scored a team-high 18 points and VCU held UMass scoreless the final 4:24 to fend off a Minuteman rally and advance to the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Semifinals Thursday at Barclays Center.
OPENING TIP
Bamisile connected on 4-of-6 from 3-point range and finished 6-of-9 from the field overall
VCU senior guard Zeb Jackson registered 17 points, four rebounds and five assists. Fellow senior guard Max Shulga dished out a team-high seven assists
Freshman forward Michael Belle and sophomore forward Tobi Lawal each added seven points and six rebounds on 3-of-4 shooting for the Black and Gold
UMass was led by Rashool Diggins who had 21 points
THE DIFFERENCE
VCU shot 50 percent (22-of-44) from the field and 23-of-30 from the free throw line. The Rams held the Minutemen to just 35 percent (19-of-54) shooting from the floor and 29 percent (7-of-24) from deep
VCU led 20-16 with 7:45 left in the first half before going on a 18-5 run capped off by a Lawal dunk. The Rams took a 42-25 lead into the break. The Rams held the Minutemen to 7-of-28 shooting in the first half, including 1-of-9 from three
UMass was 14-of-19 from the free throw line
VCU had a 15-7 advantage in points off turnovers, efficiently capitalizing on just nine Minutemen turnovers
The Rams had their lead cut to 65-59 with 4:24 left in the game before clamping down on defense. VCU ended the game on an 8-0 scoring run sparked by a Bamisile layup to end the game
UMass outscored VCU 19-8 to begin the second half behind Diggins' scoring outburst to cut the Ram's lead to 54-47 with 9:46 remaining
UMass would only get as close as six points for the remainder of the game
NOTABLE
VCU advanced to the Atlantic 10 Semifinals for the second consecutive season
The Rams will be playing in the A-10 Semifinals for the eighth time in 11 chances since they joined the league prior to the 2012-13 season
VCU improved to 20-8 all-time in A-10 Tournament play with Thursday's win
NEXT UP: Fifth-seeded VCU will face ninth-seed Saint Joseph's at 1 p.m. on Saturday on CBS Sports Network. The Rams and Hawks have met once this season, a 73-69 VCU victory Feb. 25 at the Siegel Center.
Other recaps:
Notes about UM's stats:
59 points was the lowest on the season (previous average 78.1 per game)
.352 FG%, 2nd lowest (prev avg .454)
18 pts in the paint, lowest (prev avg 37.9)
Cohen 5 FGAs, fewest in last 6 weeks (half his avg)
26 total rebounds, lowest
15 defensive rebs, lowest