Three thoughts from courtside at Mullins Center.
Three thoughts from courtside at Mullins Center.
Respect the deep threat
UMass bombed 7 of 16 3-point attempts, as Duquesne collapsed its defense and dared the Minutemen — especially Chaz Williams — to shoot from deep. In fact, Williams was stopped cold on 2-point attempts (0 for 2), but went 3 for 6 from long range to make up for it.
Freddie Riley, who the Dukes were challenging, didn't let it bother him, as he went 3 for 4 from deep in his second start since Jesse Morgan tore his ACL>
Careless Dukes
Duquesne committed the cardinal sin against UMass in the first half — turning the ball over. The Dukes' 12 turnovers led to 13 UMass points, as guards Derrick Colter, Sean Johnson and Jeremiah Jones each coughed it up three times for Duquesne.
Esho the human highlight reel
Maxie Esho continues to get the crowd on its feet this season with acrobatic dunks this season, and had one of his more athletic slams of the season late in the first half Thursday.
After Freddie Riley forced a turnover and tipped the ball ahead to Esho, Esho momentarily lost it before somehow turning his mistake into a flawless dunk.
It wasn't his best of the season (his posterization of Rob Loe at Saint Louis last week will be tough to top), but definitely another one to add to what should be an entertaining reel by the end of the season.