The Minutemen will face the high-flying Wolfpack at 5 p.m. Friday.
Jesse Morgan, right, battles for the ball against Providenceâs players Sidiki Johnson, left, and Brice Kofane during the first half of Thursday's game
BAYAMÓN, Puerto Rico — UMass is getting what it needed out of this trip to Puerto Rico.
A dramatic win over Providence has setup an RPI-boosting and NCAA Tournament résumé sharpening matchup with No. 6 North Carolina State in the semifinals of the Puerto Rico Tipoff at 5 p.m. Friday. The game will either be shown on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
The Wolfpack ran past Penn State in its first-round matchup paced by forward T.J. Warren’s 22 points and eight rebounds.
Warren, along with guards Tyler Lewis and Rodney Purvis, are all true freshmen and part of the nation’s 10th ranked recruiting class, according to ESPN. Purvis was ranked No. 20 in the class, Warren 29th and Lewis 44th, according to ESPN.
That trio was added to a team that brings back its top four scorers, including forward C.J. Leslie (14.7 points per game) and guard Lorenzo Brown (12.7 points per game), and went to the Sweet 16 last season before falling to Kansas.
North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried had complimentary things to say about the Minutemen and Chaz Williams after the Wolfpack’s victory.
“If in fact it’s UMass, it’s full court press, it’s up and down, it’s that type of a game,” Gottfried said. “I like their team, and I really like their point guard. He makes a lot happen.”
The Minutemen are 3-0 all-time against the Wolfpack, with UMass winning the last meeting 68-56 on Jan. 2, 2003 at the Mullins Center. Anthony Anderson had a game-high 25 points and nine rebounds for UMass in that win.
PRAISE FROM COOLEY
If UMass wants to add quotes to its NCAA Tournament Résumé, this one from Providence coach Ed Cooley might be a good option:
“Back-to-back buzzer beaters — Those are seasons that will be made,” Cooley said. “That’s a tournament team we played today.”
FORD WATCH
Former UMass coach Travis Ford’s Oklahoma State Cowboys needed overtime to defeat Akron in Thursday’s first quarterfinal, but the Cowboys advanced and will take on Tennessee in Friday’s first semifinal, set for 10:30 a.m.
The Minutemen could potentially face Ford and Oklahoma State on Sunday in either the championship if both teams win Friday, or the third-place game if both lose.
Ford said prior to the tournament he hadn’t thought a lot about the possibility of playing his old employer, but that he was aware of the quality of team Derek Kellogg was bringing to Puerto Rico.
“I know they will be really, really good,” Ford said. “Derek has done a good job of bringing in some really good players as well as adjusting style of play.”
FIRSTS FOR FRESHMEN
Freshman forward Tyler Bergantino saw his first action of his career, entering in the first half and playing four minutes in the game.
Freshman point guard Trey Davis scored his first points of his career on a layup in the second half.