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College basketball

Minutemen Escape with Late-Game Heroics Against St. Joseph's

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

In a thriller at the Palestra, the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team escaped with a 70-69 win over St. Joseph's, thanks to Chris Lowe's two clutch free throws with 2 seconds left. Tony Gaffney then blocked a Hail Mary pass as the Minutemen held on for the win, improving their record to 10-15 and 5-7 in the Atlantic 10. The win was a much-needed boost for the team and its coach, Derek Kellogg, who praised Lowe for his confidence and clutch shooting.

Key Takeaways:

  • Chris Lowe's two free throws with 2 seconds left sealed the win for the Minutemen, capping an impressive game with 13 points, 7 assists, and 2 turnovers.
  • Tony Gaffney was a force to be reckoned with, contributing 17 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 4 assists, while also providing a crucial block on the final play of the game.
  • The Minutemen trailed most of the second half until Lowe's spinning layup tied the game with 2:07 remaining, setting the stage for the thrilling finish.
  • The game was marked by several key plays, including Luke Bonner's steal and subsequent free throws to put UMass ahead, and Idris Hilliard's dunk to put St. Joe's back in contention.
  • Ricky Harris added 11 points to the Minutemen's effort, while Idris Hilliard led St. Joseph's with an impressive performance.

Statistics:

  • The Minutemen now hold a 10-15 overall record and a 5-7 mark in the Atlantic 10.
  • Chris Lowe's game-winning free throws came with 2 seconds remaining, securing the win for UMass.
  • Tony Gaffney's 17 points and 10 rebounds led all players in the matchup.
  • Luke Bonner's steal and subsequent free throws proved to be the turning point in the game, putting UMass ahead by 3 with 48 seconds left.
  • The Hawks' Tasheed Carr led the team with 17 points, including 2 free throws with 6 seconds left to cut the deficit to 1.

Sources:

  • [University of Massachusetts Athletics](https://www.umass.edu/athletics/)
  • [Atlantic 10 Conference](https://atllantic10.com/)
  • [Daily Collegian](https://dailycollegian.com/)

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