AMHERST, Mass. (December 13, 2016) – North Carolina A&T's strongest game of the season came against an upper mid-major in the University of Massachusetts Tuesday night at the Mullins Center. The Aggies led the Minutemen for 34 minutes until a late surge cost the Aggies in a 65-59 loss in their first game of the Gotham Classic.
“The guys came out and played exceptionally well for 36 minutes. Unfortunately, the game is played for 40,” said N.C. A&T coach Jay Joyner. “I told them in the locker room after this tough loss that we can build on tonight. We have no choice. Our day is coming as long as we continue to prepare the right way.”
N.C. A&T (1-8) had four players score in double figures with junior guard Sam Hunt leading the way with 16 points. Eliel Gonzalez added 10 points, six assists and four rebounds while Davaris McGowens had 11 points, eight boards and three assists.
The Aggies had a spectacular start to the first half as they went 4-for-4 from beyond the arc while the Minutemen were shooting just 7.1 percent from the floor and 0-for-11 from 3-point range halfway through the first half as the Aggies led 20-3. N.C. A&T continued to build off their offensive momentum, controlling the pace of the game and scoring baskets off transition. Hunt hit 12 points in the half, going 4-for-6 from 3-point range while Gonzalez posted five assists.
N.C. A&T, who has not won a non-conference road game in three years grabbed their biggest lead of the first half, 29-11, on another one of Hunt's first-half 3-pointers. The Minutemen (7-3) answered with a 9-0 run as Donte Clark hit back-to-back 3-pointers during the run. Two Aaron Scales free throws stop the Minuteme's momentum for a moment before the Minutemen closed the half on a 10-0 run thanks to two more Clark threes that cut N.C. A&T's lead to 31-30 at the half.
“Our non-conference schedule has been pretty good, so tonight is only going to help us come conference time. We have a good team and can use these next four or five games to get ready for the MEAC,” said Joyner. “We are taking this one game at a time, and we are going to keep getting ready for the most important part of our season in January.”
N.C. A&T powered to the first six points of the second half on layups from Raymon Pratt, McGowens and Gonzalez. Those six points gave N.C. A&T a working lead throughout most of the second half. The Minutemen finally worked their way to within one, 51-50, on a Zach Lewis 3-pointer with 6:27 remaining. Lewis then gave UMass their first lead of the game on a layup created by an Aggies turnover. Hunt and McGowens helped the Aggies regain the lead as Hunt found McGowens inside for two points.
The Aggies had a chance to extend that lead when Hunt went to the line for free throws. Hunt, however, missed the front end of the 1-and-1 opportunity with 5:39 to play, giving UMass possession which they took advantage of as Luwane Pipkins 3-pointer gave the Minutemen a 55-53 lead. They never trailed again.
A layup by Pipkins and Clark extended the Minutemen's lead to six, 59-53, with 3:28 to play. The Aggies never got any closer than four the rest of the way. The Minutemen shot 71 percent from the floor (10-for-14) over the last nine minutes of the game to secure the win.
Clark led the way with 22 points and six assists on 9-for-14 shooting. N.C. A&T continues play in the Gotham Classic, heading out west to take on the Pacific Tigers in Stockton, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 10 p.m. EST.
