UMass only captured the lead for 26 seconds across both halves of action. Matt Cross was a key component to the Minutemen offensive attack with 17 points, but it was not enough to counter Towson’s aggressive offensive play.
This was the second meeting of the Frank Martin-era Minutemen against Towson following a 67-55 home loss last year. The Tigers (4-5) have played a hard schedule coming into this game against the likes of Houston, Colorado and South Dakota State. Pat Skerry’s Tigers squad was battle-tested in a way that the Minutemen had not been yet and it showed.
UMass’ gameplan in the first half focused on pushing the ball into the paint from the top of the key into the hands of Cross and forward Josh Cohen. However, 2022-2023 CAA Defensive Player of the Year, Charles Thompson did not make it easy. Thompson picked up three blocks, two steals and ten rebounds on the night; most importantly holding Cohen to just eight points.
On the other end of the floor, Towson’s offense was firing on all cylinders, especially through dynamic combo guard Christian May. The Minutemen had no answer for May’s hustle in the offensive zone as he dropped 27 points on 8/11 shooting including 10 free throws.
The Minutemen continued to stay in the game and only went into halftime facing a 36-27 deficit. Statistically, both teams were fairly equal at the end of the first half with the notable difference being Towson winning the rebound battle 21-15.
The Minutemen came out hot offensively in the second half mainly due to the play of guard Keon Thompson. After scoring 0 in the first half, Thompson made his presence known knocking down two early layups along with drawing shooting fouls on both of them and bringing the lead within five for UMass.
Thompson was a lone bright spot for UMass in this game as he dominated the second half of play scoring all 19 of his points in the second half. The Tigers kept UMass away from the free throw line apart from Thompson who had 11 trips, more than half the team’s total.
Defensive fouls were a major issue for the Minutemen in the second half similar to last weekend’s contest against South Florida. Towson found themselves in the bonus around six minutes into the second half, and UMass was not able to recover.
On the night, Towson shot 34 free throws compared to just 20 for UMass. The Tigers played a physical ball game and were not afraid to attack in the paint especially Dylan Williamson who scored a career-high 17 points.
Anytime the Minutemen formed momentum on offense and started to put a dent in the Tiger’s lead, Towson countered immediately. UMass made one last attempt to tie the game bringing the deficit down to 4 with 8:11 to go.
Towson did not let it get any closer than that and quickly went on an 11-0 with nine of 11 points coming from May. Robert Davis Jr. broke the Tiger run to cut the lead to 12.
While his three was too little too late, Davis Jr. put up a career-high 11 points on the night on 4/8 shooting. If the freshman has found his confidence shooting he could be a weapon on the perimeter for UMass going forward.
The Tigers would go on the closeout the game with a 10-point victory. UMass will return from their road trip and head back to the Mullins Center on Saturday for a contest with UMass-Lowell.
Lowell, the runners-up in the America-East last season is off to a hot 6-2 start including a road win against Georgia Tech. The Riverhawks are 1-5 all-time against the Minutemen after picking up their first victory 85-80 last year at Mullins. UMass-Lowell is also off to a hot start in the NCAA Net Rankings as they currently sit in the 50th spot compared to the Minutemen at 122.
Within America East, the Riverhawks lead the league averaging 81.8 points per game, largely due to guard Ayinde Hikim and forward/center Karim Abdoul Coulibaly. Hikim began his career at A10 La Salle before transferring to Lowell where he has found success including leading the team in assists last season. This year, Hikim was been a dominant scoring force averaging 19.8 on the season, the highest in America East.
Coulibaly, who earned America East All-Conference Second Team honors last season has picked up where he left off averaging 12.8 points per game this season, on 71% shooting from the field. Cohen and Cross will need to be atop their defensive game to slow him down.
