Massachusetts 83, American International 56

Published Nov. 24, 2010 10:35 p.m. ET

foxsports

Anthony Gurley scored 22 points and Massachusetts broke a second-half tie to pull away from American International for an 83-56 victory Wednesday night.

The Minutemen (5-0) led 35-34 at halftime in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic and were tied at 37 with the Division II Yellow Jackets with 18:41 to go.

UMass then went on a 15-5 run to push the lead into double figures for good in the first non-exhibition game between the two teams since 1987.

The Minutemen are off to their best start since going 26-0 in the 1995-96 Final Four season.

Sampson Carter added 13 points for UMass, which shot 57.6 percent in the second half (19 of 33) while holding American International (3-2) to 28.6 percent (8 of 28).

The 27-point margin of victory was the highest in Derek Kellogg's three years coaching the Minutemen.

Isiah Wallace led the Yellow Jackets with 19 points.