• Season: 2011-12
• Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2012
• Opponent: Charlotte
• Start Time: 7:00 PM ET
• Site: Mullins Center
• Special Event: Atlantic 10 Regular Season
• Television: none
• Radio: UMass Radio Network

• UMass Game notes

UMass men's basketball looks to bounce back against Charlotte tonight
By Matt Vautour, Daily Hampshire Gazette, 1/11/2012

AMHERST - Back in the gym for the first time Tuesday after his basketball team's loss to La Salle on Sunday, University of Massachusetts coach Derek Kellogg liked the way the Minutemen had bounced back as it prepared to play Charlotte at 7 tonight at the Mullins Center.

“The attitudes have been very good and they've come in with some good energy,” he said. “I think they're refocused and put that game behind them and learned for it. There's going to be some adversity and how we handle it will be an indicator of how the season goes. If how they've reacted is any indication, we'll be ready to play” Charlotte.

Charlotte's non-conference slate has some similarities to that of UMass. Both teams beat Davidson at home and East Carolina on the road. Both lost to Miami. The 49ers (9-5) have sped out of the gates in Atlantic 10 play with wins last week over Richmond at home and Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia.

“Everybody in the league seems to have or be close to double-digit wins and a good out-of-conference resume,” Kellogg said. “The tough thing about that is that there's no game on the schedule that you're really supposed to win.”

The Minutemen (12-4, 1-1 A-10) are 7-0 at home this season, including six games at the Mullins Center.

UMass fell behind Sunday largely due to La Salle's marksmanship. Charlotte is unlikely to match that as the 49ers are 12th in the conference in 3-point shooting at 30.8 percent. Their rebounding numbers are a statistical oddity. Despite featuring three of the league's top 15 rebounders, including two in the top five, Charlotte has fewer rebounds than its opponents this season.

Junior big man Chris Braswell leads Charlotte in scoring (13.5 points per game) and rebounding (7.4 per game), followed closely by forward Javarris Barnett (11.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg).

“I'm a little concerned about foul trouble because they have a couple of guys who go into the post and that's where we're the most thin right now,” Kellogg said. “It's something I'm thinking about and there are things we'll have to do if that takes place. … Zone is definitely an option, but I don't want to get away from the success we've had playing a certain way and the confidence that's given our team.”

Kellogg said senior Matt Hill was not ready to play in Sunday's loss after just being medically cleared following a knee sprain. And Kellogg was not sure if he would play tonight.

“It didn't look like he was moving around great in practice,” Kellogg said. “He'll be usable against Charlotte. I don't know to what capacity he can help us.”

Matt Vautour can be reached at [email protected]. Follow UMass coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/GazetteUMass. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at http://www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.

The UMass basketball team is learning that zone is not unmanly (1/10/2012)

Charlotte 49ers put A-10 lead on line at Massachusetts (1/11/2012)

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

MBB Extends Home Win Streak To Nine, Defeats 49ers, 85-75
Raphiael Putney picked up his second career double-double scoring 19 points and pulling in 10 rebounds.
From UMass Athletics, 1/11/2012

AMHERST, Mass. - Using a late second half run the UMass men's basketball team was able to hold on and defeat Charlotte, 85-75, Wednesday night at the Mullins Center. The Minutemen converted on 13-of-14 free throw shots in a 17-6 run over the last four minutes of the game to seal the win. They remain undefeated at home posting a record of 9-0.

UMass (13-4, 2-1 A-10) was led by Raphiael Putney who tallied a career high 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Chaz Williams also finished with 19 points and picked up six assists and five rebounds. Terrell Vinson finished with 18 points and seven boards. Sean Carter was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor and finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Charlotte (9-6, 2-1 A-10) was led by junior center Chris Braswell who tallied a career high 31 points and went 10-for-11 from the charity stride.

The 49ers took their first lead and only lead of the game with 4:47 left in the second half. They used a 12-0 run that lasted two minutes giving them a 69-68 advantage. Over that stretch Charlotte was 6-for-6 from the floor forcing three UMass turnovers.

The Minutemen opened the game on a 21-6 scoring run that lasted over the first six and a half minutes. Carter and Vinson scored a combine 14 points over that stretch going 6-for-6 from the floor and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. The Minutemen were able to score 10 points off five Charlotte turnovers in that time.

Charlotte was able to cut the Minutemen lead to six using a 18-8 run over six minutes of play and 13 first half points from Chris Braswell.

UMass extended its lead back to eleven going into halftime on five unanswered points from Putney. He finished the half with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.

The Minutemen shot 55 percent (26-for-47) from the floor and 37 percent (7-for-19) from three point territory and 84 percent (26-31) from the free throw line for the game.

UMass will be looking to keep its home winning streak alive on Saturday when they face Saint Joseph's from the Mullins Center. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.

NOTES

• Raphiael Putney reached double figure scoring for the 10th time this season, with a career-high 19 points on the night. He also grabbed 10 rebounds, giving him his second career double-double. The Minutemen are 9-1when Putney scores more than ten points.
• Sean Carter shot 6-for-6 from the field against Charlotte, 3-for-3 in the first half, his second strong offensive performance. Carter shot 8-for-11 at La Salle, which gives him a .823 shooting percentage in the last two games.
• Chaz Williams scored 19 points in this game, the 15th time this season he has scored in double figures.
• Terrell Vinson and Putney both ended the first half in double-digit scoring with 10 and 12 points, respectively.
• Chris Braswell scored 31 points on the Minutemen, including 10 from the free-throw line. The last time UMass allowed a player to score 30 points was two seasons ago against La Salle.
• This is the 10th game UMass has had four or more players in double figures, including Vinson's season-high 18 points.

UMass men's basketball makes free throws to hold on for win over Charlotte
By Matt Vautour, Daily Hampshire Gazette, 1/12/2012

AMHERST - Missed free throws almost cost the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team a win last week. Made free throws saved the Minutemen from a disheartening loss Wednesday.

After losing a 20-point second-half lead, the Minutemen made 13-of-14 from the line down the stretch to beat Charlotte 85-75 Wednesday at the Mullins Center.

“We did enough things to win and almost did enough things to lose, but Charlotte's a good team,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. “But I thought our guys showed some resiliency when they came back and we made the plays we needed to to come away victorious. We shot free throws much better tonight, which was a nice sign that our guys are maturing and getting in the gym and shooting extra. So I'm happy with the win.”

The 49ers cut UMass' 20-point edge all the way to five at 62-57, but the Minutemen scored six straight points to seemingly regain control at 68-57 with 6:58 remaining. Charlotte though ran off a dozen straight points to take a brief 69-68 lead.

Terrell Vinson was fouled driving the baseline on the next UMass possession. Vinson made both free throws to put UMass back ahead for good at 70-69 with 4:22 left.

“I wanted the ball in that situation to get to the line and get fouled, hit my free throws. I realized they couldn't guard me,” Vinson said. “I like to step up and take big shots. If my teammates depend on me in those situations, I want to come through for them.”

Derrio Green missed at the other end and Chaz Williams grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 3:40 left in the game. The sophomore point guard, who'd missed key free throws against Fordham, made both from the line to give UMass a 72-69 lead. Williams was 6-for-6 from the line in the final four minutes and finished with 19 points.

UMass had fewer fouls than usual and it proved important as DeMario Mayfield was in a one-and-one situation with 3:30 remaining. He missed the first free throw and Raphiael Putney got the rebound. After both teams traded misses, Vinson drove the left baseline and laid the ball in to stretch the Minutemen's lead to 74-69 with 2:24 left.

Chris Braswell, who had 31 points, missed a 3-pointer on Charlotte's next possession. The rebound bounced over the backboard giving UMass the ball back. Javorn Farrell and Williams then went a combined 4-for-4 from the line on consecutive possessions to put the Minutemen ahead 78-69, sealing the win.

Vinson, who had 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists, thought absorbing Charlotte's run and still pulling out a win was a sign of maturity.

“In my freshman year we cracked in those spots and toward the end of last year we cracked in those positions,” he said.

Putney had his second double-double in the past three games with 19 points and 10 rebounds and three blocked shots, while Sean Carter added 15 points and eight rebounds.

UMass (13-4, 2-1 Atlantic 10) plays Saint Joseph's, Saturday at 4 p.m. Charlotte (2-1 A-10) fell to 9-6.

The A-10 “is somewhat unforgiving because on any given night, anybody can come in here and play well and have a chance to beat us or vice versa,” Kellogg said. “Hopefully, my guys can come back and play Saturday.”

Sean Carter improves his scoring for Minutemen with Cady Lalanne out
By Matt Vautour, Daily Hampshire Gazette, 1/12/2012

AMHERST - When University of Massachusetts reserve center Cady Lalanne went down with a foot injury following a win over Central Connecticut on Dec. 30, starting center Sean Carter's scoring figured to go up with his minutes.

But the scoring bump has been dramatic.

Carter scored in double figures just twice before Lalanne's injury, but he's done it now twice in the past two games. He followed Sunday's career-high 18 points with 15 in Wednesday's 85-75 win over Charlotte at the Mullins Center.

“He's playing well. He's a fifth-year senior. I think he's very mature physically, which gives him a chance to score down low,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. “With the numbers we have and the style we're playing, he's going to actually have to touch the ball in the post and put the ball in the basket some for us to be successful. I think he's taken on the challenge of being the lone five-man and doing a pretty nice job with it.”

Carter said he's feeling more confident on offense.

The coaches have been “talking to me about being more aggressive in the post and posting up and calling for the ball, because a lot of teams have been pushing early up on our guards and take our dribble-drive away. They told me that they need me to catch the ball and relieve pressure so the guards can cut freely,” Carter said. “I'm just trying to put more pressure on the other team's big men inside so I can kick out for the open shot and even drop off open layups.”

HOME RECORD - UMass (13-4, 2-1 Atlantic 10) improved to 9-0 in true home games this season and 10-0 including a win at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The Minutemen are undefeated in Massachusetts at 11-0, which also includes a win at Boston College.

“It's home. This is the way it should be. The fans are starting to come and support the team. I'm expecting a great crowd on Saturday,” Kellogg said. “The kids actually deserve to have a good home-court advantage and have a good crowd. They're competing at a high level, they're playing a fun style, they're giving everything they have, and we don't have that many bodies, so an extra boost from the crowd is fantastic.”

Carter said the players have taken pride in their home record.

“Playing at home has been a real big thing for us. We've won a lot of home games this year, as you can tell, and we're just trying to protect our home court,” he said. “It helps us with the fans because the fans are more into it, more people come to the games. It's just a good thing to try to protect your home court every time you step onto it to play.”

NEXT UP - UMass will host Saint Joseph's at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Hawks (12-5, 2-1 A-10) beat Fordham 80-62 Wednesday in Philadelphia.

MISCELLANEOUS - Charlotte's loss combined with Dayton's loss at St. Bonaventure left La Salle, which didn't play Wednesday, as the Atlantic 10's only undefeated team in conference. … Former Minuteman Luke Bonner was in the crowd of 2,760.

Matt Vautour can be reached at [email protected]. Follow UMass coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/GazetteUMass. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at http://www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.

UMass basketball holds off Charlotte to remain unbeaten at home (1/12/2012)

UMass basketball team saved by foul shooting (1/12/2012)

UMass able to toe the line for a win (1/12/2012)

Minutemen streak on in Amherst (1/12/2012)

49ers fight back, then fall back and lose 85-75 (1/12/2012) Game observations (1/12/2012)

• Photo gallery: Springfield Republican
• Video: Highlights
• Video: Press Conference

Official Basketball Box Score
Charlotte vs Massachusetts
01/11/12 7:00 PM at Amherst, Mass. (Mullins Center)

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VISITORS: Charlotte  9-6, 2-1 A-10
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
00 BARNETT, Javarris... f  2-7    1-5    0-0    1  1  2   4   5  4  2  0  2  32
11 MAYFIELD, DeMario... f  7-14   1-4    0-1    0  4  4   4  15  4  1  0  3  31
35 BRASWELL, Chris..... c  9-15   3-5   10-11   5  4  9   4  31  2  3  0  2  36
01 GREEN, Derrio....... g  2-6    2-6    0-0    0  0  0   0   6  4  1  0  1  19
15 HENRY, Pierria...... g  5-10   3-6    0-1    1  1  2   4  13  3  0  0  2  30
02 SHERRILL, KJ........    1-5    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   2   2  0  1  0  0  12
05 NICKERSON, E. Victor    0-3    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   2   0  1  1  0  2  11
10 BRISCOE, Jamar......    1-6    1-4    0-0    1  1  2   2   3  3  2  0  1  23
14 WILLIAMS, Terrence..    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  3  3   1   0  0  1  0  0   6
   TEAM................                         2     2
   Totals..............   27-67  11-30  10-13  11 16 27  23  75 21 12  0 13 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-28 42.9%   2nd Half: 15-39 38.5%   Game: 40.3%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-10 40.0%   2nd Half:  7-20 35.0%   Game: 36.7%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  5-7  71.4%   2nd Half:  5-6  83.3%   Game: 76.9%    1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: Massachusetts 13-4, 2-1 A-10
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
33 VINSON, Terrell..... f  4-7    2-3    8-10   2  5  7   3  18  5  2  0  1  33
34 PUTNEY, Raphiael.... f  8-13   3-7    0-0    2  8 10   0  19  3  3  3  0  35
54 CARTER, Sean........ c  6-6    0-0    3-5    2  6  8   3  15  1  2  0  0  31
03 WILLIAMS, Chaz...... g  5-10   1-3    8-8    1  4  5   2  19  6  5  0  2  37
05 MORGAN, Jesse....... g  3-4    1-1    2-2    0  1  1   3   9  0  3  0  3  25
00 FARRELL, Javorn.....    0-1    0-1    4-4    0  0  0   2   4  1  2  0  0  19
01 ESHO, Maxie.........    0-2    0-0    1-2    1  2  3   1   1  0  1  1  0  11
04 RILEY, Freddie......    0-4    0-4    0-0    0  2  2   0   0  0  1  0  0   9
   TEAM................                            2  2             1
   Totals..............   26-47   7-19  26-31   8 30 38  14  85 16 20  4  6 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 17-29 58.6%   2nd Half:  9-18 50.0%   Game: 55.3%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  6-14 42.9%   2nd Half:  1-5  20.0%   Game: 36.8%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  4-6  66.7%   2nd Half: 22-25 88.0%   Game: 83.9%   2,1


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Officials: Wally Rutecki, Earl Walton, Joe DeRosa
Technical fouls: Charlotte-None. Massachusetts-None.
Attendance: 2760
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Charlotte.....................   33   42  -   75
Massachusetts.................   44   41  -   85

Available at UMassAthletics.com