Courtesy of UMassAthletics.com.
BAYAMON, P.R. – Tennessee scored 14 unanswered points to pull away from Massachusetts for a 83-69 win in the third-place game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez Sunday.
UMass had just erased a five-point deficit and tied the game at 54 with 8:28 to play when the Vols went on their run. The Minutemen trimmed the margin to seven with just over three minutes left but weren’t able to get any closer.
UMass (2-2) shot just 35 percent and was outrebounded 51-37.
Jesse Morgan led the Minutemen with 18 points and a game-high four 3-pointers. Chaz Williams inched closer to 1,000 career points with 16, to go along with eight assists. He needs just nine points to become the 42nd player in school history to accomplish the feat. Both players had three steals apiece.
Jarnell Stokes finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds for Tennessee (3-1). The Vols shot 45 percent and controlled the paint at both ends of the floor. They outscored UMass 40-28 in the paint and converted 17 offensive boards into 20 second-chance opportunities.
UMass scored the game’s first four points before the lead changed hands five times and was tied twice in the opening period. UT led 38-34 at the intermission.
Trey Davis saw considerable time at the point guard spot when Williams picked up his fourth foul with just under 15 minutes left. The freshman played turnover-free ball in 10 minutes while collecting a key steal during the Minutemen’s late run.
UMass will play its next game in nine days when it faces Siena for the second-consecutive season. Tipoff at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. is set for 7:00 p.m.
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