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Derrick Gordon’s last-second bucket lifts UMass past Providence in overtime

Derrick Gordon

AMHERST -- Trey Davis told UMass coach Derek Kellogg he was confident he could take his man off the dribble and win the Minutemen the game. He did his typical jumpstop into a floater, but his shot came up a little bit short. Luckily the ball landed right into the hands of sophomore guard Derrick Gordon, who put in the game-winner with 1.1 seconds to play as UMass won an overtime thriller, 69-67, over Providence on Saturday night at the Mullins Center.

“It looked good,” Gordon said of Davis’ shot. “But it just happen to bounce my way.”

With 1:36 remaining in regulation, UMass point guard Chaz Williams picked up his fifth foul, as the Minutemen held a five-point lead. Bryce Cotton was looking to draw contact, and as he leaned in Williams backed off. Cotton hit the deck, and Williams was sent to the bench.

“I didn’t touch him, so I don’t see where the foul call came from,” Williams said.

With Williams out, PC rallied to tie the score and force overtime. It looked like the Friars would take control in the overtime period, but missed free throws by Providence and a team grittiness from UMass kept the shorthanded Friars from picking up the win.

“I looked at everyone on the floor and they gave me a head nod like they was ready to win this game and that’s what they did,” Williams added.

UMass bounces back after suffering its first loss of the season last Saturday, as Florida State slowed down the game. Despite losing and shooting poorly, the Minutemen still had a chance to win the game, showing they can win regardless of tempo and style.

“This is probably the first team we’ve had that can win in a lot of different ways,” Kellogg said. “We can win when the game’s fast, we can win in the half-court. That just shows the guys have matured and we’re better as a team and a program.

“We can lock up and make plays in the half-court and I actually think we can get better on our press. I don’t think our press is where it needs to be quite yet. We’re not as aggressive as I’d like to be.”

Against Providence, UMass proved it could win without its star point guard, who missed the final 6:36 of the game. Trey Davis and Maxie Esho both shined off the bench -- scoring 23 opposed to Providence’s zero bench points -- while Gordon, who can be a big piece for the Minutemen moving forward, ended as the hero.

Moving forward this is a big game for the Minutemen. They showed maturity, especially when Williams went out , and maybe a game-winning bucket, in front of a sold-out crowd, can get Gordon -- the Western Kentucky transfer -- going offensively.

UMass concludes its non-conference slate next Saturday against Miami (OH). Providence begins Big East play on Tuesday, hosting Seton Hall.

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