NCAA Game Summary - Rhode Island at Massachusetts

Amherst, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Chaz Williams netted 16 points and dished out a team-high six assists as the Massachusetts Minutemen outlasted the Rhode Island Rams, 70-67, in an Atlantic 10 bout at Mullins Center.

Trey Davis scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds off the bench for UMass (22-5, 9-4 A-10). Sampson Carter chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds, and Derrick Gordon narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. The Minutemen have won three games in a row.

Gilvydas Biruta led all scorers in the game with 17 points for Rhode Island (12-17, 3-11), adding eight rebounds and five assists. Xavier Munford netted 16 points, E.C. Matthews chipped in 14 and Hassan Martin contributed 13 points in the loss. The Rams have dropped seven of their last eight contests.

UMass connected on 28.9 percent of its field goal tries in the first half, including 4-of-11 from 3-point range, and still managed to take a 31-30 lead into the locker room at the half. Rhode Island connected 52 percent of its shots in the frame.

The Minutemen came out in the second half firing, hitting 57.9 percent of their field goals, adding 16-of-24 from the free-throw line. The Rams netted 48.1 percent of their tries in the period and couldn't erase UMass' slight lead.

UMass outscored Rhode Island from the free-throw line, 21-11, and had the edge in rebounding, 41-28. The Rams dominated in points in the paint, 42-26.