AMHERST, Mass. – A pair of free throws by Massachusetts' Noah Fernandes with :01.8 to play proved to be the difference as Saint Joseph's fell to the Minutemen, 69-67, on Saturday afternoon at the Mullins Center.
How It Happened
• Massachusetts jumped out to an early 13-8 lead.
• Saint Joseph's responded with an 8-2 run as a three-pointer by
Charles Coleman put the Hawks ahead 16-15.
• A three-pointer by
Erik Reynolds II made it 19-17, but the Minutemen followed with seven consecutive points to take a 24-19 lead on a three-pointer by C.J. Kelly at 10:45.
• Back-to-back three-pointers from
Cameron Brown and
Dahmir Bishop pushed the Hawks back in front, 25-24.
• The lead changed five times in the final seven minutes of the stanza as Massachusetts took a 36-35 edge into the second half.
• Saint Joseph's scored the first five points of the second period to take a 40-36 advantage on a three-pointer by Brown.
• The Minutemen retook the lead, 41-40, but the Hawks answered with a 6-0 run to open a 46-41 lead on a layup by
Ejike Obinna at 15:59.
• Massachusetts battled back to take a 47-46 advantage, but the Hawks countered with five straight points to open a 51-47 lead on a
Jordan Hall three-pointer.
• Behind an 8-0 run, the Minutemen went back ahead, 60-57, capped by three free throws by Fernandes with 4:40 to play.
• Down 67-64 with :09 to play,
Jordan Hall hit the front end of a one-and-one, but missed the second free throw only to have the ball bounce off a Massachusetts defender.
• Off the inbounds, Hall found Obinna for a dunk through defenders to tie the game at 67-67 with :08 remaining.
• On the ensuing play, Fernandes' fadeaway jumper fell short, but the Hawks were whistled for a foul on the shot with :01.8 to go.
• After Fernandes connected on the two free throws, Hall caught a long pass from Brown and put up a heavily-contested three-pointer that missed its mark at the buzzer.
Inside The Boxscore
• Brown paced the Hawks with 15 points and added two rebounds and two assists.
• Hall handed out a team-high seven assists and scored 13 points.
• Obinna was the third Hawk in double figures finishing with 10 points and four boards.
• Coleman finished with a season-high seven points.
• Saint Joseph's went 1-of-3 from the foul line, while Massachusetts was 14-of-19 from the stripe.
• The contest featured seven ties and 21 lead changes.
Up Next
The Hawks (10-13, 4-8 A-10) host George Mason on Wednesday, February 16 at 7 p.m.
