• Season: 1967-68
• Date: Saturday, February 10, 1968
• Opponent: Vermont
• Start Time: ?
• Site: Curry Hicks Cage
• Special Event: Yankee Conference game

• Result: UMass 96, Vermont 58
• Attendance: 1,600

Redmen Blast Vermont As Tindall Shines
UMass in Easy 96-58 Romp; Tindall Scores Record 41
By Mike Curran, The Massachusetts Daily Collegian Staff Reporter, 2/12/1968

What was billed as a crucial Yankee Conference battle, turned into Billy Tindall night as the 6’5” senior poured in a record-breaking 41 points in leading UMass to a 96-58 rout of Vermont.

1600 freezing fans had come to the Cage expecting a close game since the Catamounts had beaten the Redmen 85-82, in overtime in Burlington earlier in the season. Any fears of another upset were quickly dispelled however.

Joey DiSarcina had the UMass Fastbreak in high gear right from the start. Once the Redmen began to find the range, they rattled off strings of nine and ten consecutive points. Vermont was as cold as the Cage, on the other hand, and before the halftime buzzer sounded they were well out of the game.

From the 13 minute mark in the first half to the 5 minute mark, the visitors were outscored 21-4. Tindall was especially hot from the floor during this spell sinking four shots from inside.

At intermission, UMass led 49-21, as Tindall with 16 and DiSarcina with 14 led the way.

Vermont shot an icy 20% for the first 20 minutes.

The big story of the last 20 minutes was Tindall. With a 25 point burst, he broke the single game high of 39 points set by Bill Prevey in 1952 while eclipsing Clarence Hill’s field goal mark of 16 established two seasons ago.

Coach Jack Leaman had all starters out except Tindall for the last ten minutes of the game. The subs fed their Captain until with a little over a minute to go he threw in a 20-footer which gave him the scoring record.

UMass’ control of the boards was the key difference between this game and the Redmen’s first effort against the Catamounts. Led by Tindall with 17, UMass outrebounded Vermont, 72-43.

The home team also enjoyed a wide edge in the shooting department, sinking 37 of 74 as opposed to the visitors’ 22 of 61.

Tindall’s 41 points came on a hot 19 of 33 from the floor and a poor three of 13 from the line. Better foul-shooting would have enabled the senior Captain to break the Cage record of 44 for a varsity contest.
(UMassHoops.com note: The record of 44 points was set by New Hampshire’s Frank McLaughlin in a losing effort, 98-90 in Amherst on 1/14/1956.)

John Dreyer was impressive in his role as a substitute center. The little used center showed he can handle himself well off the backboards picking off seven rebounds in 13 minutes of action.

Ray Ellerbrook had another find game, coming up with 18 points while Frank Martinuik led the Catamounts with 22 points. Both sophomore guards from New Jersey shot better than 50% from the floor.