Dec 28, 2003

Box Score |  Photo Gallery

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) - Rashaun Freeman scored a game-high 22 points on 10-for-13 shooting as Massachusetts won its third straight game on Sunday, 82-66 over Albany.

The Minutemen (5-4), who never trailed, led 41-25 at halftime and twice pulled ahead by as many as 19 in the second half.

Albany (2-6) never came closer than 11 in the second half.

Art Bowers scored 13 points and Maurice Maxwell had 10 for UMass, which shot 53 percent from the field.

Levi Levine led the Great Danes with 21 points, Aquawasi St. Hillaire added 17 points and 12 rebounds and John Iati had 15 points.

Chris Chadwick, making his first start of the season, hit a pair of 3-pointers as the Minutemen jumped to a 21-5 lead in the first 11 minutes of the game, but Levine scored six points in a 15-4 Albany run to cut the UMass lead to 25-20 with 5:45 to play in the first half.

Freeman, who also had a team-high 10 rebounds, and Gabe Lee hit baskets, and Jeff Viggiano sank a pair of free throws as the Minutemen stretched the lead back to 11.

UMass men's basketball returns to action this Tuesday, Dec. 30, as it travels to Connecticut for a 7:00 p.m. contest at the Hartford Civic Center.