AMHERST — Massachusetts basketball (3-1) utilized a 51-point first-half performance to earn an 84-77 win over Central Connecticut State (2-2) on Sunday afternoon at the Mullins Center.

The Minutemen were led by Junior K’Jei Parker, who set a new career high in points, scoring 22 points with six triples and two assists. Leonardo Bettiol recorded his second double-double of the season with 19 points and 15 rebounds.

Marcus Banks Jr. contributed 11 points over the afternoon with four assists, three rebounds, and a pair of steals.

The Blue Devils were led by Darin Smith Jr., who tallied 18 points and an assist in the matchup.

Breaking Down the Action

Massachusetts opened the game with an 8-0 run over two minutes, capped by a Banks Jr. triple for an early lead.

The Blue Devils tallied their first point with a free throw by Jay Rodgers.

Both teams traded baskets, highlighted by a corner 3-pointer from Luka Damjanac to extend the Minuteman lead back to 17-7 with 13:19 on the clock.

A layup from Leonard Bettiol gave Massachusetts a 21-11 lead with 11:39 remaining in the half.

K’Jei Parker went on a personal 8-0 run to extend the Massachusetts lead to 29-11 with 9:34 left in the first half.

Bettiol and Daniel Hankins-Sanford combined for a 5-0 UMass run, making the score 34-13 with 7:42 on the clock.

A dunk from Nico Ashley cut the Massachusetts lead back to 34-15 on the next possession.

After trading points, Banks Jr. found Dimitri Clerc under the basket for a dunk to extend the Minutemen’s lead, 38-17.

CCSU answered with a 9-2 run over nearly three minutes to pull them within 14, 40-26.

With 1:59 left in the half, Parker led an 11-2 run, giving Massachusetts a 51-28 advantage at the break.

The Blue Devils began the second half with a 13-0 run over nearly three minutes to cut the deficit to 10, 51-41.

Parker answered with a basket from beyond the arc, snapping a Minutemen scoring drought for a 54-41 lead.

The teams matched points with a pair of free throws by Ashley, bringing CCSU within eight with 14:14 left in the game.

Baskets from Dwayne Wimbley Jr. and Bettiol gave Massachusetts a 65-51 lead with 13:15 to play.

The Blue Devils came within eight, but a three-pointer from Banks Jr. gave the Minutemen some insurance with 9:13 on the clock.

The teams traded baskets, with a layup by Danny Carbuccia keeping the UMass lead at 80-66 with 4:56 remaining.

Gabe Spinelli sparked an 8-0 comeback run in the final four minutes to pull CCSU within six.

Marcus Banks Jr. sank a pair of free throws to ice the game, giving Massachusetts an 84-77 win.

Newcomer Notifications

Seven newcomers saw action on the evening, with Bettiol, Banks Jr., and Parker entering as starters.

Bettiol tabbed back-to-back double-doubles as a Minuteman with 19 points and 15 rebounds.

Parker recorded a career-high 22 points.

Numbers To Know

3: Three Minutemen reached double figures on the night: Parker (22), Bettiol (19), and Banks Jr. (11).

4: The Minutemen nabbed four steals.

10: The team recorded 10 three-pointers.

42: The Minutemen combined for 42 points in the paint.

44: Massachusetts grabbed 44 rebounds over the afternoon.

Series History

With the result, Massachusetts now holds a 10-5 record against the Blue Devils all-time.

Massachusetts is now 3-1 over the season and 50-48 with Coach Martin at the helm.

Up Next

The Minutemen fly to the U.S. Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam and face Charleston on Friday, Nov. 21, with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live updates and links available at umassathletics.com or @UMassMBB on X (Twitter).

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