The Massachusetts Minutemen (1-5, 0-0 Atlantic 10) lost both games in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off at Mohegan Sun this past weekend. UMass lost a close matchup to the Temple Owls (4-2, 0-0 American Athletic Conference) 87-80 on Saturday night. The Minutemen also lost to the Florida State Seminoles (6-1, 0-0 ACC) 92-59 on Sunday afternoon. UMass trails in all-time history against the Owls 44-23, and against the Seminoles 5-4.
Former Atlantic 10 Foes Renew Rivalry as the Minutemen Come Up Short Against the Owls:
A slow start from UMass on Saturday night dug them into a hole quickly early on, and a lack of made baskets in the first half stifled their second-half comeback attempt. The Minutemen could not find shots going through the net until closer to the end of the first half to cut the lead down to seven points, but then saw the lead grow back up to double-digits with another slow start allowing the Owls to keep the lead. Jayden Ndjigue and Shahid Muhammad both led the Minutemen in scoring through the first half of play, and Muhammad’s 3 blocks helped prevent the Owls from getting baskets that could have made the lead bigger than it was. Jaylen Curry and Daniel Hankins-Sanford tried to get the Minutemen back into the game in the second half by leading UMass in scoring for the half. Besides the cold start from the field for UMass, 11 missed free throws and getting out-rebounded by Temple throughout the game put the lead out of reach for the Minutemen.
The Minutemen had four players in double-figure scoring on Saturday night against the Owls. Curry led the way with 17 points, Hankins-Sanford had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Muhammad had 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks, and Ndjigue had 11 points to round out scorers in double digits. Nate Guerengomba and Daniel Rivera had 7 points apiece, Tarique Foster had 5 points, Marqui Worthy had 4 points, and Rahsool Diggins had 2 points for scorers for UMass.
Seminoles Out Battle the Minutemen All Across the Boards:
On Sunday afternoon, the Minutemen had yet another slow start in the game against the Seminoles. UMass did go on a ten-to-nothing run in the first half and gained the lead at 24-23. After that lead, the Minutemen did not see the lead pack in the game or have their deficit in the single digits. In the second half, officiating took over the game with Malek Abdelgowad being ejected after receiving a Flagrant Two Foul for headbutting a Florida State player, and then both Diggins and Curry receiving Flagrant One Fouls for tough fouls on fastbreak plays by the Seminoles.
“That was a bad rec league team, the way we approached that game today. We played with no passion, no pride, no desire, no willingness to compete,” said Coach Frank Martin on the team’s performance. “I mean, you find the negative adjective… 42 years, I’ve never been so embarrassed basketball team.”
The Minutemen had three players in double-figure scoring on Sunday afternoon against the Seminoles. Curry led the way again with 17 points, Rivera had 12 points and 6 rebounds, and Guerengomba had 10 points to round out scorers in double digits. Hankins-Sanford had 4 points and 13 rebounds, Diggins had 4 points and 4 assists, Akil Watson and Amadou Doumbia also had 4 points apiece, Ndjigue had 2 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals, and Worthy had 2 points to round out all scorers for UMass.
Next Up for the Minutemen:
UMass travels to Lavietes Pavilion to face the Harvard Crimson (2-4, 0-0 Ivy League) on Wednesday, November 27th at 4pm. This will be the 35th meeting between these two teams, and the Minutemen lead the series history 19-15 over the Crimson.
Featured Image: Basketball Hall of Fame
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.
