Iona Gaels vs. UMass Minutemen Final: UMass wins its last non-conference game 87-82

The Massachusetts Minutemen finished up their non-conference schedule with a win over the Iona Gaels.

With five minutes left in the second half UMass found themselves down 78-73 after an Ibn Muhammad made three. Trey Davis then made back to back buckets that sparked an 8-0 run.

Derrick Gordon would hit the go ahead layup with 1:16 to go in the game and hit two subsequent free throws a minute later to seal the 87-82 victory.

Trey Davis was the belle of the ball as he had a near perfect game. Finishing with 25 points and seven assists Davis might have had his breakout performance. It wasn't just the big numbers he put up that helped lead UMass to victory but how efficiently he did it. Davis only missed one shot, a three, as he went 10-11 from the field and finished 5-6 from three.

The first half from UMass was very impressive as they managed to secure a six point lead at the half. Iona had a narrow lead to start the game but after four and a half minutes to play but Trey Davis quickly captured that lead with two three pointers in a row.

Derrick Gordon finished second in scoring with 19 points and added in seven rebounds and two steals.

UMass' second half lead grew as large as 11 before the Gaels went on a 18-6 run to take the 74-73 lead with 7:17 to go.

The remaining three starters: Maxie Esho, Cady Lalanne, and Jabarie Hinds all scored in double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively. Esho got in foul trouble early in the first half that hampered his play. Lalanne also added in eight rebounds including four offensively. UMass would finish with 11 total offensive boards.

David Laury finished with 24 points to lead the Gaels and added 11 points for the double double. UMass had no answer defensively for him.

The UMass bench was non-existent as it combined for just 12 points, eight of them coming from Donte Clark.

As a team the Minutemen shot 51.6 percent from the field compared to the Gaels 43.7. That was the saving grace for UMass as the Gaels edged them out in almost every other category. But as we all know, the only thing that matters in basketball is putting the ball in the hoop.

UMass goes into A-10 play with a disappointing 7-6 record, but have won all five home games. Their next game is against St. Bonaventure who sports a 7-4 record.