UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) After watching his Massachusetts Minutemen fall to Notre Dame on Saturday, coach Derek Kellogg couldn't help but wonder how his team would bounce back on Sunday against Florida State.
Kellogg left Mohegan Sun Arena feeling much better after Jabarie Hinds and Trey Davis combined to hit five of six free throws in the final 29.4 seconds as UMass (4-1) held on for a 75-69 victory in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic.
''I feel pretty good,'' Kellogg said. ''Just coming away and gutting out a win today is great for the team and the program. It gives us a little bit of confidence going back-to-back. It also let us know there are some other guys on the roster that can do some things. My job is to facilitate and get those guys some more balls.''
Hinds and freshman Donte Clark came off the bench to lead UMass with 15 points each. They combined to make 12 of 14 free throws, and the Minutemen were 23 of 30 from the line as a team. Center Cady Lalanne added 14 points.
''I just try to play every game like it's the same game,'' Clark said. ''I just try to do what my coach tells me and not make any wrong mistakes.''
Kellogg said he has been impressed and wants Clark to develop defensively and in other areas to develop a total package.
''I'm rough on the young guys,'' Kellogg said. ''It takes a while for them to get in my good graces. In practice, (Clark) has shown some natural instincts, especially on offense, that are hard to teach.''
Florida State (1-3) lost its third consecutive game. Xavier Rathan-Mayes led the Seminoles with 22 points, but missed a pair of free throws with 15.1 second remaining and UMass leading 73-69. He rebounded the second miss and then missed a 3-point attempt.
Boris Bojanovsky came off the bench to score 18 points for Florida State, which scored the first eight points of the game on the way to a 35-34 halftime lead.
The first half was an exhibition of poor shooting by both teams. UMass made 12 of 31 shots from the field (38.7 percent). Florida State was just slightly better, connecting on 14 of 35 attempts for 40 percent. UMass was 1 for 7 from 3-point range but the Seminoles came up empty on their three shots beyond the arc.
''(Clark) hit some timely shots,'' Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton said. ''Any time you've got a guy coming off the bench to give you that type of lift in a nip and tuck game, it gives you a tremendous boost.''
TIP-INS
Florida State: The Seminoles were wearing their turquoise Nike N7 uniforms Sunday to raise awareness for bringing sports and physical activity to Native American and Aboriginal youth. It was the third time in the last two seasons the Seminoles wore the uniforms.
UMass: Saturday's loss to Notre Dame ended a 10-game November winning streak for the Minutemen. That streak tied the school record set in 2010 and 2011.
THOMAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
Florida State guard Aaron Thomas, who had two points in 15 first-half minutes, became ill at halftime, did not return and was hospitalized for observation. Hamilton had not talked to doctors but speculated Thomas became dehydrated.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
''It's not the first time I've started 1-3. I'm not overly concerned. I think we're going to be just fine.'' - Hamilton
UP NEXT
Florida State hosts The Citadel on Tuesday.
UMass hosts Northeastern on Wednesday.
