AMHERST — UMass got just 7 points from its starting guard and just 16 points from their entire starting lineup, but the Mintueman bench came to the rescue in an uneven game Wednesday night, when they held off Saint Joseph’s, 62-57, at the Mullins Center.
Each team could watch the game film and believe, with fewer mistakes, it might have won easily. The Hawks led by a dozen in the first half and UMass held an 8-point edge late in the second half. But with 2 minutes, 30 seconds left the game was tied 53-53 after James Demery made one of two free throws to cap a 9-1 run.
Zach Lewis, who had carried UMass for much of the game missed a baseline shot, but Rashaan Holloway grabbed the rebound in traffic and was fouled as he laid it back in.
He missed the free throw as the Minutemen clung to a 55-53 lead with 1:55 left.
At the other end, miscommunication led to Lamarr Kimble’s ninth turnover of the game as the Hawks’ point guard threw a pass out of bounds. Donte Clark, who’d been quiet, made a big shot with 1:18 left. He drove into the lane, up-faked to fool Nick Robinson to jump early and then laid the ball in to make it 57-53.
After another Hawk turnover, Lewis missed an open 3, but Holloway grabbed the board and fed C.J. Anderson slashing to the basket. The junior threw down a one-handed dunk to make it 59-53 with 26 seconds left.
Still UMass couldn’t quite get comfortable. Between two free throws by James Demery (19 points, 11 rebounds) and two by Kimble, Clark hit just one free throw as the Hawks got within three with 15 seconds left.
Demery quickly fouled Lewis with 13 seconds left for a 1-and-1.
Lewis had only attempted 14 free throws all year before Wednesday and only four since November. But the junior made both to cap his season-high 23-point night and seal the win.
“I’m ecstatic that we came way win the win. After being down 24-12, I wasn’t sure we’d ever score again,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. “It was nice to see we made some winning plays after not playing a beautiful game. We made a few winning plays down the stretch.”
St. Joe’s coach Phil Martelli said Lewis’ shooting helped offset his team’s zone defense that had frustrated UMass early.
“When they were dead in the water against our zone in the first half, he was the one that got them going,” Maretelli said. “Some nights you have to say the other guy is better. He was better.”
Led by Lewis, UMass’ bench rescued it from a brutal early shooting. The Minutemen missed their first four shots and fell behind 9-0, 2:11 into the game.
The Hawks held UMass’ starters scoreless for the first 13:19 until Holloway scored in traffic against a double team. It was the only points UMass didn’t get from its bench all half.
The Minutemen had made just five of 20 shots and trailed 24-12 with 5:10 remaining before Lewis and C.J. Anderson took control. UMass closed the half on a 17-5 run. Lewis had 9 of his points in that stretch on three 3s, while Anderson had 6 on a pair of treys including one with 4.1 seconds left that tied the game 29-29 at intermission.
“Shot just weren’t falling,” Anderson said. “We were taking some really good shots. For us to keep our confidence and keep shooting, I give big props to my team.”