AMHERST — On a night when the UMass starters never got into rhythm, the Minuteman bench picked up the slack.
C.J. Anderson and Malik Hines led the second unit, which scored 40 points of UMass’ points in a 62-55 win over Wagner Wednesday at the Mullins Center.
With just under 5 minutes remaining after Corey Henson brought Wagner within two at 52-50, Luwane Pipkins missed a 3-pointer, but Hines grabbed the offensive rebound in traffic got it to back to Pipkins, who fed Anderson, who was open in the corner.
Before Wednesday, Anderson had 15 points all season. But he drained the 3-pointer to give him 19 in the game. After Henson turned the ball over at the other end, Anderson attacked again. He missed this time, but Hines dunked the rebound all in one motion. The sequence put UMass ahead, 57-50 and the Seahawks never threatened again.
“I was just feeling good trying to be aggressive,” Anderson said. “I got some run-outs early and it got me into the flow of the game.”
UMass coach Derek Kellogg said the team’s improved practice intensity carried over.
“(Hines and Anderson) made some big plays,” Kellogg said. “They both have played very confident in practice as of late.”
Hines’ seven points Saturday against Harvard was, at the time, a career-high. It turned out to be a warm-up. The sophomore from Mississippi played the second half at a level, he hadn’t even approached before in his Minuteman career. With Rashaan Holloway both in foul trouble and struggling when he was in the game, Hines gave UMass a spark. He had 11 of his career-high 14 after intermission to go with eight rebounds (five offensive).
“Games like this just come down to who wants it,” Hines said. “It’s heart and hustle.”
The bench, helped UMass overcome a 7-for-28 shooting night (1-for-15 from 3-points range) for Donte Clark, Luwane Pipkins and Zach Lewis.
Anderson was 8-for-11 from the floor including 3-for-4 from 3-point range. He had three rebounds and three assists.
UMass led by 11 late in the first half, but Wagner went to intermission on an 8-2 run cutting UMass’ lead to 34-29. The Seahawks carried momentum into the second half. Seahawks big man Mike Aaman (17 points, eight rebounds) hit a jump hook with 9:21 left to tie the game 47-47.
“(Wagner) was a very well-coached basketball team,” Kellogg said. “They did a good job of controlling tempo.”
Clark (11 points), who carried the Minutemen in wins over Holy Cross and Harvard, hit a layup to regain the lead with 8:20 left, but UMass didn’t get comfortable until late.