Murray’s 18 points, late free throw shooting help La Salle hold off Massachusetts 80-74

La Salle knocks off Massachusetts 80-74

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Aaric Murray scored 18 points and La Salle held off Massachusetts down the stretch for an 80-74 victory on Sunday.

The Explorers (8-7, 1-1 Atlantic 10 Conference) didn’t score from the field in the final 3:22, but went 10-for-12 from the free throw line in that span in the game at the MassMutual Center.

UMass (7-8, 1-1) cut La Salle’s lead to 70-67 on Ricky Harris’ three-point play with 3:04 remaining, but that was as close as the Minutemen could come. Harris missed a 3-pointer and a chance for a tie with 2:43 left and La Salle’s Jerrell Williams, who had 12 rebounds, hit two free throws to extend the lead to 72-67 with 2:39 to play.

Rodney Green and Yves Mekongo added 17 points each and Steve Weingarten had 10 for the Explorers.

Harris scored 11 of his 17 points in the final 5:15.

Freddie Riley scored 22 points and Terrell Vinson added 13 for UMass.