Pipkins, Laurent help UMass rally, beat Fairleigh Dickinson
AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — Jonathan Laurent and Luwane Pipkins scored 20 points apiece to help Massachusetts rally from a 14-point deficit and beat Fairleigh Dickinson 85-84 on Friday.
Rashaan Holloway had 16 of his 18 points —including five dunks — in the second half, Carl Pierre scored 13 — 10 after the break — and Keon Clergeot scored 11 for UMass.
UMass (7-5) hit 14 of its first 17 second-half shots and used a 13-2 run, capped by Pipkins' 3-pointer that gave the Minutemen a 69-66 lead with 7:25 to play, their first since early in the first half. FDU trailed until a 9-3 spurt, including five points by Xzavier Malone-Key, gave the Knights a three-point lead with 1:28 remaining. Holloway's tipin of a miss by Laurent and then a layup by Pipkins — after Randall West's steal — capped the scoring.
Jahlil Jenkins missed a jumper with five seconds left, West grabbed the rebound and was fouled but missed both free throws. Malone-Key grabbed the rebound but, after a timeout, the Knights didn't get off a shot before the final buzzer.
Jenkins led five Fairleigh Dickinson players in double figures with 19 points. The Knights (5-6) led by as many as 14 before taking a 44-36 lead into the break.