• Season: 2023-24
• Date: Saturday, March 2, 2024
• Opponent: Davidson
• Start Time: 2:30 PM ET
• Site: Belk Arena, Davidson NC
• Special Event: Atlantic 10 conference game
• Television: USA
• Stream: USA, NBC Sports app
• Radio: WEEI 105.5 FM, WCRN 830 AM
• Spread: UM +1½¹⁾
• UM personnel report: All players dressed

• Result: UMass 69, Davidson 67
• Attendance: 3771

• Game notes: UM, DC

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

Massachusetts Secures 10th Conference Win At Davidson, 69-67
From UMass Athletics, 3/2/2024

DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Massachusetts (19-10, 10-7 Atlantic 10) men's basketball team edged out a narrow 69-67 victory over Davidson (15-14, 5-11 A-10) in Belk Arena on Saturday afternoon. With the win the Minutemen secured double-digit conference victories for the first time since the 2014-15 season.

In a game with nine lead changes and 11 ties, the Minutemen gutted out a narrow victory in the final three minutes of regulation. Facing a three-point deficit with 1:25 to go, Matt Cross drew two fouls, sinking all four free throws and giving Massachusetts a lead they would not surrender. Despite fighting to the narrow victory down the stretch Massachusetts led for much of the action, holding the lead for over 27 minutes.

Senior Matt Cross led the way for the Minutemen, scoring 26 points including 17 in the second half alone. The forward made the most of his opportunities shooting 9-of-12 from the field and 8-of-10 from the charity stripe.

In his return to Charlotte Daniel Hankins-Sanford came up clutch, recording a 10 point and 12 rebound double-double. Four of the sophomore's eight points came in the final five minutes of action off of offensive rebounds.

Junior Rahsool Diggins continued to shoot the ball well from deep, scoring 13 points while going 4-for-6 from three-point range.

Massachusetts dominated the glass, totaling 45 rebounds and owning a 18-6 advantage in second chance points.

The Wildcats were led by Reed Bailey who scored a team-high 21 points while securing eight rebounds.

Breaking Down The Action

• Josh Cohen got the scoring started for UMass making it a 2-2 game with the clock showing 18:40 in the first half.
• Two consecutive baskets from Hankins-Sanford capped an 8-0 UMass scoring run to make it 16-8 with 12:32 remaining in the half.
• Rahsool Diggins sunk a three-pointer with 2:24 remaining in the half to finish an 8-1 Massachusetts run, giving the Minutemen a 33-25 lead.
• Two free throws from Cohen sent the Minutemen into the locker room with a 35-31 advantage at the break

Davidson opened the second half with the hot hand as Reed Bailey at 39-39 with 17:44 remaining in regulation.

• After trading baskets for much of the next three minutes, Matt Cross scored five consecutive points to extend the UMass lead to 50-45 at the 13:45 mark of the second half.
• UMass held the lead for the next 11 minutes of play before a driving layup from Connor Kochera made it 63-64 Wildcats with 2:10 left in the game.
• Kochera pushed the Davidson advantage to 63-66 before Matt Cross drew two fouls on back-to-back possessions.
• Cross went 4-of-4 from the line giving Massachusetts a 67-66 lead with 28 seconds on the clock.
• A final Cross free throw ended the scoring at Belk Arena, as the Minutemen secured a 69-68 win in North Carolina.

New Kids On The Block

• Daniel Hankins-Sanford led all newcomers as the transfer 10 points, 12 rebounds and a block in the contest.
• Josh Cohen and Jaylen Curry both added eight points on the afternoon, with Cohen also reeling in eight rebounds.
• Jayden Ndjigue put forward another all-around evening, scoring four points to go along with five rebounds and a career-high three blocks.

Numbers To Know

• 2: Hankins-Sanford recorded his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
• 3: Ndjigue swatted a career-high three blocks on the evening.
• 10: Massachusetts secured its 10th conference victory of the season, the first time since 2014-15 the Minutemen have achieved double-digit a win total in Atlantic 10 play.
• 18: Massachusetts held a one-sided 18-6 advantage in second change points.
• 20: The Minutemen hauled in 20 offensive rebounds, the third time this season they have recorded 20-plus in a single game.
• 26: Cross tallied 26 points, marking his third game with 20-plus points this season.
• 45: UMass dominated the glass, owning a 45-31 advantage on the glass.

Year Two Under Coach Martin

• Massachusetts Head Coach, Frank Martin now holds a 34-26 record leading the Minutemen.
• Martin now sits with a 322-227 collegiate career record.

Series History

• The series now stands at 12-6 in favor of the Wildcats with The Minutemen claiming the 18th matchup between the two programs

Up Next

• The Minutemen host Fordham on Wednesday, March. 6 at 7:30 p.m. for the regular season finale at the Mullins Center. The broadcast can be found on NESN+ with live stream available on ESPN+. Links and live updates are available at umassathletics.com or @UMassMBB on X (Twitter).

‘Cats Drop Another Heartbreaker in A-10 Play; Fall to UMass, 69-67
From Davidson Athletics, 3/2/2024

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Matt Cross scored a game-high 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting and Massachusetts used a late rally to get by Davidson, 69-67, in Atlantic 10 men's basketball action Saturday afternoon inside John M. Belk Arena.

For the Wildcats, it's their eighth loss in league play by five or fewer points as they fall to 15-14 overall and 5-11 in the conference.

Trailing 57-51 after a pair of Minutemen treys, Davidson used a 15-6 spurt capped by three straight backdoor layups from Connor Kochera to go back in front 66-63 with 1:25 to play.

On the next two possessions, UMass (19-10, 10-7 A-10) forced a pair of Wildcat miscues turning them into points at the other end to re-take the lead for good. Davidson missed a free throw in the closing seconds and had another turnover with a chance to tie or take the lead.

Despite the loss, Reed Bailey continued his impressive play for Davidson with 22 points. He was joined in double figures by Kochera (16) and Grant Huffman (14).

Sean Logan led the 'Cats on the defensive end with a career-high five blocks in 30 minutes of action.

The Minutemen, who shot just 37 percent overall, finished with a 45-31 advantage on the glass, including 20 offensive rebounds that led to 18 second-chance points.

UMass, which led 35-31 at the half, reeled off eight unanswered late in the first 20 minutes to break a 25-25 deadlock.

Up Next: Davidson will close out its home slate Wednesday when Loyola Chicago visits for a 7 p.m. tip.

Other recaps:

• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Matt Cross, Daniel Hankins-Sanford make plays late as Minutemen win at Davidson for first time since 1998
• Mass. Daily Collegian: UMass avoids heartbreak, pulls off 69-67 win against Davidson
• MDC: Daniel Hankins-Sanford secures Minutemen win over Davidson

• Davidson clips: Reed Bailey breaks UM's defense, Jarvis Moss breakaway, Kochera puts DC up late

• Photo gallery
• Audio: DC Coach McKillop post-game presser

Standard, SideArm, PDF