Dec 23, 2001

Box Score |  Notes

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) - Micah Brand scored all of his team-high 17 points in the second half Saturday to lead Massachusetts to a 78-60 come-from-behind victory over Maine.

UMass (6-3) trailed 35-30 early in the second half and was behind for the last time at 39-38 before Brand, a 6-foot-11 forward, hit his only 3-pointer of the game.

With the score tied 41-41, Brand's dunk put the Minutemen on top for good. Brand was 7-of-11 from the field and also had a team-high seven rebounds.

The game remained close until UMass, which shot 57 percent in the second half, went on an 8-0 run with Shannon Crooks scoring two baskets and Anthony Anderson and Brand adding one each, to give the Minutemen a 57-47 lead with seven minutes to play.

Kitwana Rhymer had 16 for UMass, Crooks and Jameel Pugh added 12 apiece and Anderson finished with 11.

Maine (2-8) got a game-high 23 points from Errick Greene and 12 from Justin Rowe. Rowe also had a game-high 12 rebounds.

Crooks' steal and layup in the final seconds gave UMass a 28-27 halftime lead.

There were four ties in the first half, the last time at 20-20, before Eric Williams and Rhymer hit from in close to put the Minutemen back on top.

Joe Campbell's 3-pointer and two free throws by Rowe gave Maine its last lead of the half at 27-26.