Massachusetts secured a hard-fought 85-82 victory over Western Michigan at University Arena, with Marcus Banks Jr. leading the charge for the Minutemen. The win marked a solid non-conference road triumph for Massachusetts, who improved to 13-9 on the season. Western Michigan, despite a valiant effort, slipped to 8-13.
The contest was closely contested throughout, with Massachusetts holding a slim 36-35 advantage at halftime. Western Michigan's Justice Williams was unstoppable in the first half, scoring 15 of his game-high 29 points to keep the Broncos within striking distance. However, Massachusetts' balanced attack, which saw three players score at least 20 points, ultimately proved too much for Western Michigan to handle.
In the second half, Massachusetts extended its lead to as many as 10 points, but Western Michigan refused to back down. The Broncos embarked on a 12-4 run, fueled by Williams' relentless scoring and timely baskets from Brady Swartz and EJ Ryans, to trim the deficit to just two points with under five minutes remaining. Nevertheless, Massachusetts' Leonardo Bettiol and K'Jei Parker combined for 10 crucial points late, allowing the Minutemen to maintain their slim advantage.
Marcus Banks Jr. was instrumental in Massachusetts' victory, scoring 22 points on an efficient 8-12 shooting from the field. Bettiol added 21 points and 8 rebounds, while Parker chipped in with 20 points. For Western Michigan, Williams' 29-point outburst was complemented by 12-point efforts from Swartz and Ryans.
The loss was a Quad 4 defeat for Western Michigan, which could have real consequences for the Broncos' tournament resume. As for Massachusetts, the win also fell into the Quad 4 category, but the Minutemen's overall profile received a modest boost. With a current net ranking of 193, Massachusetts want to build on this victory to strengthen its position in the NCAA tournament conversation.
Given the close nature of the contest and the strong individual performances, it's clear that both teams left everything on the court. While Western Michigan's tournament hopes may have taken a hit, the Broncos can take pride in their competitive effort against a solid Massachusetts squad. As for the Minutemen, they'll aim to carry this momentum into their upcoming games, knowing that a strong finish to the season could be the difference between an NCAA tournament berth and a postseason absence. The victory over Western Michigan serves as a valuable addition to Massachusetts' resume, one that could pay dividends when the selection committee evaluates the Minutemen's tournament worthiness in March.