The Massachusetts Minutemen (1-0, 0-0 Atlantic 10) defeated the University of New Hampshire (0-1, 0-0 America East) 103-74 during Monday night’s season opener. The Minutemen have a 67-27 lead over the Wildcats in the series history.
UMass saw the scoring column open up with Malek Abdelgowad scoring a layup, which led to the Minutemen going on an 18-2 run against the Wildcats. That run included two baskets from Daniel Rivera and four three-pointers from Rahsool Diggins. The lead that UMass had built up at the start of the game was never taken from them. It shrunk down to 7 points in the first half and grew as big as 34 points late in the second half.
Diggins had a career night in multiple ways on Monday night against the Wildcats. Diggins scored a career-high 26 points and eight made three-pointers. The eight-made three-pointers by Rahsool also tied the program record for most made in a game. He joins Carl Pierre Luwane Pipkins, Trey Davis, Ricky Harris, Carmelo Travieso, Lorenzo Sutton, and Rafer Giles who are all tied for the most three-pointers in a single game. “I didn’t know the record, but I knew mine. I’m just playing basketball honestly,” said Diggins when asked about the program record.
The Minutemen had four different players in double-figure scoring. Diggins led the way with 26 points and 3 assists, Akil Watson had 14 points and 3 rebounds, Abdelgowad had a career-high of 12 points and 12 rebounds (marking his first career double-double), 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals, and Daniel Hankins-Sanford had 10 points and 2 steals to round out scorers in double digits. Nate Guerengomba had 9 points, Jaylen Curry had 9 points, 6 rebounds, a career-high 12 assists, and 4 steals, Tarique Foster had a career-high 8 points, Rivera had 6 points and 3 rebounds, Shahid Muhammad had 4 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 blocks, Jayden Ndjigue had 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 steals, and Luka Damjanac had 2 points and 1 block to round out scoring for UMass.
The Minutemen hit the road for the first time this season to travel down the country roads to face the West Virginia Mountaineers (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) on Friday, November 8th at 7pm on ESPN+. This will be the 43rd meeting between both teams, and the Mountaineers lead the series history 28-14 over the Minutemen.
Featured Image: UMass Athletics
Kaily “KG” Godek is a current student at Western New England University (WNE). She has been a supporter of UMass Athletics for over 15 years. Kaily focuses on both UMass Basketball teams and occasionally on the other Women’s Basketball teams in the conference. While writing for A10 Talk, she works in the athletic department at WNE. When she graduates from WNE she wants to go into either Sports Broadcasting and Journalism or Coaching. You can follow Kaily on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kgumass23.
