Milligan Scores & Lowe Dishes UMass Soars Past Saint Louis, 88-77 :: Milligan sets new career high points while Lowe sets career high in assists

Feb. 17, 2008

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AMHERST, Mass. - Five Minutemen scored in double-figures as UMass posted a 88-77 win over Saint Louis in Sunday's Leaman Legacy Game at the Mullins Center. Dante Milligan scored a career-high 21, Etienne Brower had 15 points and nine rebounds. Gary Forbes netted 17 and Ricky Harris (coming off the bench for the first time this season) added 14. Chris Lowe had a career-high 13 assists, the most helpers by a UMass player since Carl Smith tied the school record with 15 on Jan. 23, 1986. Lowe, who also had 13 points, tied for fifth all-time in single-game assists at UMass. The Minutemen improved to 16-9 overall and 5-6 in the Atlantic 10.

Saint Louis (14-11, 5-6 A-10) was led by Kevin Lisch, who scored 25. Danny Brown contributed 19. The Billikens never led in the game, as UMass picked up its third wire-to-wire win of the season.

Brown's third 3-pointer of the game kept Saint Louis close, as the Billikens trailed 81-75 with 1:02 left in regulation.

After dishing out assists all day, Lowe hit two 3-pointers late in the game for his first baskets of the day. His second gave UMass a 75-66 lead with 2:30 left in the second.

Twice in a four-minute span Lisch hit a 3-pointer to keep the Billikens within reach. His second came on a 3-pointer with 3:00 left, cutting the lead to 72-66. Lisch's 3-pointer and lay-up brought the Billikens to within six at 65-59 with 7:10 left in the second half.

The Minutemen continued to build the lead with dunks by Brower and Milligan to make it 53-39. Brower's dunk was set up by a pressured steal by Lowe.

Two quick baskets by Forbes and Milligan in the first minute of the second half gave UMass a 45-36 lead.

Lisch's lay-up at the buzzer made the halftime score 41-36 in favor of UMass. Brower led all players with 12 in the first half. The Billikens had a pair with 10 in Lisch and Paul Eckerle.

Danny Brown's 3-pointer in the left corner with 2:15 left in the first half cut the lead to 37-34 capping a 7-0 run.

A Harris steal and fastbreak 3-pointer gave UMass a 37-27 lead with 4:40 left in the first half after Saint Louis had cut the lead to five on several occasions.

In his first-career start Matt Glass hit his first 3-pointer of the game to give the Minutemen their first double-figure lead at 25-15 with 9:34 left in the first half.

UMass opened the game on fire hitting five of its fist six shots to take a 13-5 lead in the first four minutes. That surge included three 3-pointers including a pair by Brower.

Massachusetts State Governor Deval Patrick attended the game along with UMass system President Jack Wilson and UMass Chancellor Thomas Cole.

The Minutemen travel to Rhode Island (20-5, 6-4 A-10) for the 130th all-time meeting with the Rams on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. That game will air nationally on ESPN2.