UMass Stuns Miami in MAC Tournament Upset

UMass Stuns Miami of Ohio in MAC Tournament, Securing First Postseason Win Since 2021 The Massachusetts mens basketball team pulled off a remarkable upset, defeating number twenty Miami of Ohio 86-83 in the Mid-American Conference tournament. This victory marked their first postseason win since 2021 and their first triumph against a ranked opponent since 2013. UMass improved to 17-15, while Miami suffered their second loss of the season. The games turning point was UMasss dominance on the offensive glass, grabbing 17 rebounds compared to Miamis 9, converting those into 23 second-chance points versus Miamis 8. The Minutemen shot over 60% from inside the arc, outperforming Miami in the paint. Coaches from both teams commended the players effort. UMass head coach Frank Martin praised his teams hard work, while Miamis Travis Steele acknowledged his teams lack of intensity around the rim. Players like Jayden Ndjigue and Leonardo Bettiol contributed 41 points and 10 offensive rebounds, driving the comeback. Down by 11 with 8 minutes left, UMass fought back with drives to the basket and crucial stops. Clutch shots from Daniel Hankins-Sanford and Luka Damjanac, along with Marcus Banks Juniors late free throws, secured the win after Miami tied it late. UMass now faces fourth-seeded Toledo in the semifinals on March 12th at 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, with a chance to extend their March magic. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7936bf7e345ea473