University of Minnesota Athletics
Fast Break: UMass
11/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
SERIES, ETC.
Today's 69-51 win was the first all-time meeting between Minnesota and Massachusetts. No. 14/15 Minnesota improved to 6-0 on the season, while UMass dropped to 3-2. Head coach Richard Pitino is 1-0 against the Minutemen, and 2-0 against A-10 foes, while Minnesota now stands at 1,456-1,082 all-time and 19-10 versus teams from the A-10 (not counting vacated games). Coach Pitino's fifth-year record at Minnesota is 81-61, and his six-year career mark is 99-75.
STARTING FIVE
Coach Pitino continued to utilize a starting lineup of seniors Nate Mason and Reggie Lynch, juniors Jordan Murphy and Dupree McBrayer, and sophomore Amir Coffey. Mason made his team-leading 75th career start (69th consecutive) in Maroon and Gold, while Murphy was in the starting lineup for the 60th consecutive time. Lynch, who transferred from Illinois State, has now started 39 games for the Gophers (89 career), while McBrayer started his 41st career game and Coffey made his 39th career start.
GOPHERS DEFEND PERIMETER
Minnesota, which entered the game having allowed opponents to connect on 49-of-110 (.445) three-pointers this season, held the Minutemen to just 3-of-23 (.130) trifectas and 19-of-62 (.306) overall. Meanwhile, the Gophers made 7-of-17 (.412) treys and connected on 27-of-63 (.429) field goals overall.
SKI-U-MURPH
Jordan Murphy finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double to start the season and the 27th of his career. Murphy made 7-of-12 field goals, including 1-of-2 from three-point range, just the 14th trey of Murphy's career. Murphy has averages of 22.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, while making 51-of-79 (.646) field goals this season.
COFFEY SERVICE
Amir Coffey made 4-of-8 field goals, including 1-of-2 three-pointers to reach double-figures with 10 points. Coffey also grabbed three rebounds and had a steal for the Gophers. Coffey, who now has 26 career double-figure scoring games, is averaging 12.5 points and 3.3 assists through six games this season.
THE Reggie Lynch BLOCK COMPANY
Reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Reggie Lynch was credited with just two blocked shots as part of a team total of four rejections in the game. Lynch added nine points, six rebounds and tied his career-high with three steals versus UMass. Lynch is averaging 11.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.7 blocked shots per game this season.
MASON MOVING UP ALL-TIME SCORING CHART
Nate Mason scored eight points to give him 1,290 for his career, which ranks 18th all-time at Minnesota. He's within striking distance of making a move, as he needs 28 points to pass Dan Coleman for 17th place and is now 102 points shy of cracking the Top 10. Mason, a reigning First Team All-B1G guard, added six assists, four rebounds and two steals. He is averaging 12.7 points and 4.3 assists with just eight turnovers through six games.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Three New York-area Gophers are making homecomings with the Gophers. Queens native Dupree McBrayer made his sixth start of the season and finished with eight points, including 2-of-3 three-pointers, while tying his career-high with six rebounds. Isaiah Washington of Harlem finished with seven points, three boards and a pair of assists, while New Jersey native Jamir Harris went 1-of-2 from beyond the arc to add three points.
