The Minutemen (7-0) beat the Quinnipiac men’s basketball team, 66-64, Wednesday night on a goaltending violation in the final moment.
With the score tied at 64 and one second on the clock, senior guard Gary Correia inbounded the ball from the baseline to a slashing Anthony Gurley. Gurley’s shot went up and Quinnipiac sophomore forward Jamee Jackson swatted it right back down, but was called for goaltending at the buzzer.
“I thought it was a great play by Jamee [Jackson],” Quinnipiac head coach Tom Moore said. “It’s a great attempt. At that point it looked like the game’s over, so at least he put some doubt into the refs mind and made a quick attempt at blocking the shot. I’m really happy with Jamee’s reaction on that play.”
UMass led by as many as 19 points in the first half and held a 17-point advantage at halftime. It wasn’t until a Dominique Langston steal ended with a breakaway dunk that the Bobcats (4-2) tied it at 59 with 2:13 left in the game.
Photo credit: Charlotte Greene
Both teams traded baskets the rest of the game until the final play.
“I’m disappointed in the reaction to their pressure in the first half,” Moore said. “I’m proud of the way that we changed our outlook in the second half.”
Quinnipiac senior forward Justin Rutty led the Bobcats’ second-half charge, finishing with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Thirteen of those points came in the second half and seven of his rebounds came on the offensive glass.
“Rutty dominated the game in the second half,” UMass head coach Derek Kellogg said. “He was the best player on the floor, and he gave the other guys confidence with his physical play and being able to score in the post that well.”
The Bobcats outrebounded the Minutemen 54 to 36. They took down 24 offensive rebounds but only scored 11 second-chance points. UMass had 10 offensive rebounds.
“[Quinnipiac] goes to the offensive glass as good as any team we’ve played against, and that could be the last couple years,” Kellogg said.
The Bobcats shot 9-for-25 from the free throw line in the game, while the Minutemen went 13-for-17.
“I’m disappointed, obviously, in our foul shooting,” Moore said. “Statistically, that clearly cost us the game. We can learn from an emotional night like tonight and grow from it.”
Sophomore guard Javorn Farrell led all scorers with 25 points, 11 in the second half. Senior guard Anthony Gurley chipped in 19 for the Minutemen, including the final two.
The Bobcats begin conference play Saturday when they face Mount St. Mary’s at 2 p.m. at the TD Bank Sports Center.
Game highlights from UMass Athletics (see the final play at 0:50):
And a bonus! Charlotte Greene caught a sequence from Dominique Langston’s monster dunk in the second half. Check it out:
Patricia Schuppert • Dec 2, 2010 at 9:15 am
Great job on the article Robin! Great job Bobcats and good luck at conference!