Nov 16, 2001

Box Score |  Notes

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) - Micah Brand scored 23 points as Massachusetts opened the season with a 66-60 win over Arkansas-Little Rock on Friday, giving new head coach Steve Lappas a win in his regular season debut.

Brand shot 11 of 14 from the field to lead UMass (1-0) while Shannon Crooks added 16 points for the Minutemen.

Nick Zachery had 17 points, including five 3-point field goals, for Arkansas-Little Rock.

Kitwana Rhymer broke a 60-60 tie with a turnaround shot with 40 seconds left. Willie Jenkins hit two free throws and Crooks scored on a layup to finish the scoring. Rhymer had a game-high eight rebounds, as UMass held a 40-34 advantage on the boards.

Arkansas-Little Rock (0-1) led 34-27 at halftime, and a Zachery 3-pointer gave the Trojans a 37-27 lead at the start of the second half. The Trojans hit 10 of 30 3-point attempts.

A Brand basket with 3:52 to play gave UMass a 56-55 lead.

Zachery had three 3-pointers and Arkansas-Little Rock went 7-for-9 from the foul line in the first half.

Damion Ninkovic added 14 points for Arkansas-Little Rock.