Box Score Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Williams Game-Tying Dunk
Amherst, Mass. - In a game that featured 14 lead changes and eight ties, Massachusetts (3-0) bested Manhattan (0-2) 77-68 in an overtime thriller at the Mullins Center.
Despite dropping the heartbreaker, the Jaspers struck a cord nationally before an ESPN2 audience with a dramatic comeback just to force overtime.
Trailing by three in the second half with 2.0 seconds remaining, sophomore Tyler Wilson (Bronx, N.Y. / Cardinal Hayes) was fouled and after making the first free throw intentionally missed the second. However, on the play Wilson failed to hit the rim giving the ball directly back to the Minutemen.
On the ensuing play, Seth Berger made an errant pass that ricocheted off his teammate's hand and out of bounds allowing Manhattan one last chance with 0.8 seconds remaining. Following a monitor check to determine the proper time, sophomore Rich Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Vermont Academy (Vt.)) delivered this powerful dunk off a Emmy Andujar (Sr., Bronx, N.Y. / Rice) lob with 0.2 seconds to force overtime while perfectly executing Steve Masiello's play call.
In extra time, UMass never trailed and converted on eight of its nine possessions while going a perfect 12-for-12 from the line to deny the Jaspers by a 77-68 count.
Despite the loss, Andujar was outstanding recording 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while notching his fifth career double-double and his third 20-point game.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair that featured seven lead changes before Manhattan forged ahead with a quick 8-2 spurt to take a 21-14 lead with 9:11 to play until halftime on a Donovan Kates (Hopkinsville, Ky. / Christian County) three pointer off a pass from Andujar.
Massachusetts would continue to fight and used a 6-1 spurt to tie it up at 28-28 at the break.
After halftime, the Minutemen reclaimed the lead at 38-37 following a Derrick Gordon layup and appeared poised to make a run. However, the Jaspers and Masiello had other ideas.
After inducing an offensive foul, Andujar scored on an in-bounds pass from junior Shane Richards (New York, N.Y. / York Prep) to reclaim the lead for Manhattan. Then following a turnover, Williams converted a layup of his own off a pass from senior RaShawn Stores (Bronx, N.Y. / Robinson School (N.J.)). Williams then swiped the ball on defense and found a cutting Richards for the third-straight Jasper layup while extending the advantage out to 43-38 with just over 14 minutes remaining.
The teams would then trade points over next six-plus minutes before Cady Lalanne dunked home a Gordon pass and Maxie Esho converted a layup to make it a one-possession game at 48-47 with just over seven minutes to play. Kates then answered with his third triple of the game before Lalanne scored the next four points to tie up the game at 51-51 with 5:11 remaining.
In continuing with the heavyweight fight theme, junior Ashton Pankey (Bronx, N.Y. / Maryland) struck next with a pair of layups to reclaim the lead for Manhattan at 55-51 at the 4:44 mark.
Unfortunately, UMass answered with six-straight points in grabbing a 57-55 lead with 2:48 remaining. After coming up empty on the subsequent possession, the Jaspers dug in defensively and Pankey registered a block and defensive rebound. Richards then took advantage with another Jasper layup - this one with three seconds on the shot clock - off an inbounds pass to tie up the game with 1:13 to play.
Pankey continued his outstanding late-game play on the subsequent possession with another block and rebound before splitting a pair from the line to give Manhattan what would prove to be its final lead of the game at 58-57 with 53 seconds remaining. Lalanne then answered with a pair from the line before converting two more free throws with five seconds remaining to give the Massachusetts what appeared to be an insurmountable 61-58 lead before the aforementioned Jasper late-game heroics.
Lalanne led all players with 23 points and 16 rebounds to pace five double-figure scorers for the Minutemen while Andujar was joined in double-figures by Richards (13) and Wilson (10). Kates (9 points), Williams (8 points | 3 steals) and Pankey (7 points | 6 rebounds | 2 blocks) rounded out the top performers for Manhattan.
UMass dominated the glass by a 45-29 margin, including 17-8 on the offensive end, and shot an even 40,0 percent (24-for-60) from the floor but converted on a blistering 93.1 percent (27-for-29) from the line.
The Jaspers shot a solid 45.8 percent 27-for-59) from the field, including 40.0 percent (6-for-15) from deep, but were just 50.0 percent (8-for-16) from the line.
Manhattan returns to action on Saturday, November 22 at 5:30 p.m. against Binghamton.
