Dec. 28, 2006

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AMHERST, Mass. - Senior guard James Life (Fort Myers, Fla.) scored 16 points and senior forward Stephane Lasme (Libreville, Gabon) added eight points, seven blocks and 16 rebounds as UMass defeated Yale 78-69 on Thursday night in the Mullins Center. Lasme's 16 rebounds was a new career-high as the Minutemen improved to 10-3 overall this season. With its 10th win of the season, UMass equals its earliest calendar date for a 10th win in school history.

Along with Life and Lasme, Tiki Mayben (Troy, N.Y.) and Brandon Thomas (San Antonio, Texas) also scored in double figures. Mayben hit for 10 points, while Thomas scored 11 on the night.

The Minutemen shot 49 percent for the game hitting 29-of-59 shots, while Yale (2-8) was just 21-for-65 from the floor (32 percent).

Eric Flato led the Bulldogs scoring a game-high 22 points, while Casey Hughes added 12 points.

The game was nip-and-tuck throughout the first half after Yale battled back from a 12-point deficit to tie the game at 30 each with 2:20 in the period. UMass went on a 10-2 run capped by a Mayben three-pointer with 0.2 seconds remaining before halftime to take a 40-32 lead.

Both teams traded baskets in the first part of the second half before UMass proved too strong and pulled away for the win.

In that second half, dominated in the paint with 22 rebounds. UMass went on a 16-5 run as they took a 60-54 lead with 9:15 left to 76-59 with 1:27 remaining. In that spurt six different players scored showing the overall balance.