Box Score DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth men's basketball squad led wire-to-wire on Sunday, with freshman Mert Sert (Hoosac Falls, N.Y.) recording career-highs with 19 points and 20 rebounds to power the Corsairs to a 90-77 victory over Western Connecticut to remain unbeaten in Little East Conference competition.
The Basics
Score: UMass Dartmouth 90, Western Connecticut 77
Records: UMass Dartmouth (9-4, 3-0 LEC) | Western Connecticut (9-3, 1-2 LEC)
How it Happened
The Corsairs shot lights out in the opening frame, converting on 52.6 (20-of-38) percent of their chances to build a comfortable advantage early. Back-to-back buckets by senior Abi Akanni (Fitchburg, Mass.) at the 15-minute mark kicked off a 15-0 Corsair run, putting the hosts up 18 before Western Connecticut was forced to take a timeout. Later in the half, UMass Dartmouth's lead would grow to 23 on a Jon Robinson (Chatham, Mass.) jumper and hover around the 20-point mark for the remainder of the half. Sert finished with 12 of his points and 14 boards in the opening 20 minutes to help the hosts to a 51-29 lead at the break.
Western Connecticut's Bobby Bynum (New Haven, Conn.) then found his stride in the second half, connecting for 19 of his 28 points in the final stanza as the Colonials were able to chip into the lead. At 7:24, Bynum hit a 3-pointer to cap an 11-3 run by the visitors, cutting the UMass Dartmouth to just 13. The Colonials were able to cut their deficit below 13 twice more, but the Corsairs' paint presence proved too much to overcome.
Inside the Numbers
- Sert becomes the first UMass Dartmouth player in a decade to record 20-plus rebounds in a single game. The last time a Corsair hit the mark was Jan. 21, 2006 when Dan Holbrook snagged 22 boards at Southern Maine.
- Sert rounded out his stat line with 6-of-12 shooting and converting 7-of-10 from the foul line, adding a pair of blocks and three assists on his career day.
- Bynum finished with 28 points, going 11-of-24 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers and 4-of-5 shooting from the charity stripe.
- Robinson added 14 points for his fourth-straight outing in double-figures, with Akanni chipping in 11 points and junior Joshua Imadiyi (Lynn, Mass.) 10 in a well-rounded attack.
- UMass Dartmouth recorded a season-high 67 rebounds, more than doubling Western Connecticut's total of 31. The Corsairs' total consisted of 26 offensive boards and 41 on the defensive end.
- Additionally, the Corsairs generated a season-high with 18 assists, seeing helpers from seven different players, while the Colonials generated only five.
- UMass Dartmouth's win streak over WCSU extends to six games with Sunday's win, and the Corsairs overtake the all-time series advantage, 30-29.
Up Next
The Corsairs are on the road next, traveling to Eastern Connecticut on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. for the battle for first place in the LEC. Western Connecticut plays host to Keene State at the same date and time.
