Nov. 12, 2001

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team started the game on a 14-0 run and never trailed again, en route to its 76-67 victory over the EA Sports All-Stars this evening at the Mullins Center. The Minutemen complete the exhibition season 2-0.

The Minutemen, who led by as many as 18 points in the first half, took a 46-33 lead into the break. Seniors Kitwana Rhymer (St. Thomas, Virgin Islands) and Shannon Crooks (Boston, Mass.) led UMass with nine first half points apiece. Both Rhymer and senior Eric Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y.) pulled down six rebounds. UMass shot 55 percent from the field and committed just one turnover in the opening period.

In the second half, EA Sports made a run to cut the UMass lead down to one point at the 9:49 mark, but could not get any closer. The Minutemen went on a 10-0 run over the next 3:12 to seal the victory.

Both Crooks and Rhymer led the Maroon and White with 17 points apiece, while junior Micah Brand (Middletown, N.Y.) poured in 14 points and a team-high four assists. Williams led the squad with 12 rebounds. Sophomore Raheim Lamb (Boston, Mass.) scored nine points for UMass.

The Minutemen, who outscored the All-Stars 59-20 in the paint, shot 48 percent for the game.

Shawn Bankhead scored a game-high 18 points for the All-Stars.

The Minutemen will open up the regular season on Friday, November 16, when they host Arkansas-Little Rock in a 7:00 p.m. game at the Mullins Center.