Massachusetts
Minutemen Continue A-10 Play Against Dayton On ESPN2 – University of Massachusetts Athletics
| University of Massachusetts Field Hockey Notes & Information | |
| Matchup | Massachusetts vs. Dayton |
| Date | Time | Jan. 7 | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| LocationD | Dayton, Ohio (UD Arena) |
| @UMassMBB | |
| @umassbasketball | |
| UMass Men’s Basketball | |
AMHERST – Mass. – Massachusetts continues Atlantic 10 play on Sunday, Jan. 7, as it travels to Dayton for a 1 p.m. tip in Ohio. The broadcast can be found live on ESPN2 with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassMBB on X (Twitter).
This week for the Minutemen
The Matchup
- Sunday’s game marks the 34th all-time matchup between Massachusetts and Dayton, with the series standing at 14-19 in favor of the Flyers.
- Massachusetts last matched up with Dayton on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 with the Flyers claiming a 72-54 victory in Amherst, Mass.
- UMass has not beaten Dayton at UD Arena since coming home with a 62-60 victory on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018.
- The Minutemen last win against Dayton also came during the 2017-18 campaign as Massachusetts completed the season sweep with a 86-82 (2OT) victory in Amherst, Mass.
A-10 Opener
- The Minutemen opened Atlantic 10 with a dominant 80-61 victory over Duquesne, leading for the final 34:14 of regulation.
- UMass claimed it’s first conference opening win since a 86-55 win over La Salle during the Covid-19 shortened 2020-21 season.
- Massachusetts came into conference play with a 9-3 record, marking the first time UMass has won 9 or more non-conference games in back-to-back seasons since the 2013-14 campaign.
- The Minutemen have now won won six of their last seven games including three at neutral site venues.
- Massachusetts final non-conference matchups also featured an 87-79 power-5 victory over West Virginia on Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, Mass.
Diamond head dubs
- Massachusetts men’s basketball team competed in an eight-team field at the 2023 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu on December 21, 22, and 24.
- The ESPN Events tournament field featured the Minutemen along with Georgia Tech, Hawai’i, Nevada, Old Dominion, Portland, Temple, and TCU.
- The Minutemen went 2-1 across three games in Honolulu, claiming two 22-point victories over Portland (100-78) and Old Dominion (87-65).
- Josh Cohen was honored as a Diamond Head Classic All-Tournament Team selection after two 28-point scoring performances against Portland and Old Dominion.
- The appearance was the first-ever at the tournament for the Minutemen and the third for head coach Frank Martin. Martin is now 7-2 all-time at the holiday tournament.
Scoring and Security
- The Minutemen have been one of the best teams in the nation in regard to ball security, ranking no. 23 in the country in turnover margin (4.0) and no. 31 in assist to turnover ratio (1.54).
- Massachusetts has shown the ability to score consistently and efficiently, ranking No. 27 in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 83.8 points per game.
- The Minutemen have recorded 90-plus points in four games this season including a 100-78 victory over Portland on Dec. 22.
- Massachusett’s 102-81 victory over Quinnipiac marked the first time the Minutemen scored 100 points since March 4, 2021 vs. Saint Joseph’s.
- The Minutemen were secure in possession, turning the ball over just five times vs. UAlbany (11/7/23). It marked the first time since March 10, 2010 vs Temple (4 TO) that Massachusetts has recorded 5 or fewer turnovers in a game.
Dynamic Duo
- Seniors Matt Cross and Josh Cohen make up one of the Atlantic 10’s premier scoring duos averaging a combined 33.3 points per game, ranking no. 2 in the conference.
- The two forwards also rank as the no. 2 rebounding duo in the A10, pulling in a combined 14.5 per game. They sit just below George Mason’s Keyshawn Hall and Amari Kelly (16.4 rpg).
- Matt Cross (31 points) and Josh Cohen (26 points) combined for 57 of the Minutemen’s 89 points against CCSU (11/22/23). The performance marked the first time since Jan. 10, 2018 that two players have each scored 25-plus points. Luwane Pipkins (44 points) and Carl Pierre (25 points) were the last teammates to achieve the feat, doing so in overtime vs. La Salle.
- With their efficient performance vs. CCSU (11/22/23) Cross (84.6%) and Cohen (90.9%) become the first two players to shoot .750 or better from the field (min. 10 att), since Tre Mitchell shot 76.5% (13-17) at La Salle on Dec.16, 2020.
Year Two Under Coach Martin
- Massachusetts basketball is in the midst of its second season under head coach Frank Martin in 2023-24.
- Massachusetts comes fresh off a 2022-23 campaign that saw Coach Martin lead the Minutemen to their best record under a first-year head coach since 1996 and capture the Myrtle Beach Invitational title.
- Martin’s team also recorded the largest true road win over an A-10 opponent by a UMass squad since February of 1996 with a 69-45 win at Rhode Island.
- Martin holds a 313-220 (.586) collegiate coaching mark, picking up 171 of his wins in 10 seasons at South Carolina while recording 117 wins in five seasons at Kansas State.
- Head coach Frank Martin picked up his 300th collegiate coaching win on Jan. 25, 2023 with a 85-76 win over Richmond.
- Prior to his time in Amherst Martin led the Gamecocks to a new program record for wins in a single season and coaches the team to its best NCAA Tournament run in program history, a trip to the Final Four in 2016-17. The 15-year head coach also led Kansas State to a 29-8 record and an Elite Eight appearance during the 2009-10 season.
New MEN in Mullins
- UMass features a new look roster which includes five returners and 10 newcomers (two transfers).
- The Minutemen welcome a talented eight-man freshman class which spans players from seven states and South Sudan and is comprised of Jaylen Curry, Robert Davis Jr., Marqui Worthy, Jayden Ndjigue, Tarique Foster, Mathok Majok, Rollie Castineyra and Tyler Mason.
- Tyler Mason joined the freshman class as a December enrollee, providing depth in the front court with 23 games remaining on the schedule.
- The class features three 3-star recruits, including Jaylen Curry, one of the highest-rated recruits in the Atlantic 10 for the class of 2023.
- UMass also brings in two transfers in Daniel Hankins-Sanford and Josh Cohen who have played an immediate role in the Minuteman frontcourt.
- Cohen was one of the most productive post players in the nation a season ago, scoring a career-high 40 points twice against Lehigh and Hawaii on his way to earning NEC Player of The Year honors.
- Hankins-Sanford comes to Massachusetts after playing 22 games for South Carolina a year ago. The Charlotte, North Carolina native features natural rebounding instincts and elite athleticism at the power forward position.
Familiar Faces
- Massachusetts returns three key pieces in Matt Cross, Keon Thompson and Rahsool Diggins from last season.
- Senior Matt Cross was selected as a 2023-24 preseason All-Atlantic 10 Third Team selection after a productive first year in Amherst.
- Cross ranked as one of just seven players in the conference to average over 12.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg. a season ago.
- Cross is joined by St. Joe’s Cameron Brown and Dayton’s Daron Holmes as the only three players to achieve this feat who return to the Atlantic 10 in 2023-24.
- Sophomore point guard Keon Thompson steps into an elevated role this season after starting nine of the last 10 games for the Minutemen in 2022-23.
- Thompson averaged 8.88 points per game and 4.0 assists per game in those nine starts. The guard was one of just three individual players in the A-10 last season to record 12 or more assists in a game with 12 against Davidson on Feb. 4, 2023.
- Junior Rahsool Diggins steps into a bigger role in 2023-24 after making 26 appearances and 10 starts for the Minutemen a season ago.
- Diggins averaged 4.7 points and 2.4 assists per game, scoring a career-high 15 points on 3-of-6 from 3-point range at Saint Joseph’s on Jan. 21, 2023.
On The Bench
- Head coach Frank Martin boasts a talented staff full of experienced assistants featuring three former head coaches, two former McDonald’s All-Americans and a former NBA lottery pick.
- Associate Head Coach Allen Edwards was the head coach of the Wyoming Cowboys from 2016-20. Edwards’ teams recorded 60 wins over four seasons, including back-to-back 20-win seasons
- Assistant Coach Brett Nelson comes to Amherst after spending the last four seasons as the head coach at Holy Cross. Nelson, a former McDonald’s All-American, is a 2004 graduate of Florida, a three-year starter for the Gators and helped his team to four NCAA Tournaments and to the 2000 national championship game.
- Assistant Coach Brian Steele enters his second second UMass after spending time on head coach Frank Martin‘s staff at South Carolina. Steele was a three-year letter winner at South Carolina as a student-athlete and served as a student assistant during the 2015-16 season in addition to the 2016-17 Final Four campaign.
- Director of Player Development Anthony Evans spent five seasons as the head coach at FIU following six years as the head coach at Norfolk State. At FIU, Evans’ teams ranked in the top-10 percent nationally from 2015-17 in the NCAA Academic Progress Report and coached multiple Conference USA all-league and all-defensive players.
- Director of Player Personnel Doug Edwards ed the Seminoles to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1990-93. The Miami, Fla. Native scored 1,604 points in his career and is the only player at FSU to score 500 or more points in three consecutive seasons. Edwards earned All-SEC Second-Team honors as a senior before being drafted with the 15th overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1993 NBA Draft.
- Head Coach Frank Martin coached now associate head coach Allen Edwards and director of player personnel Doug Edwards at Miami Senior High School.
Up Next
- Massachusetts returns to the Mullins Center for a Wednesday evening clash with La Salle on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. in Amherst, Mass. The broadcast can be found live on the NBC Sports App with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassMBB on X (Twitter).
Massachusetts
Massachusetts bakery that made signature pizza trays for more than 100 years closes for good
A Framingham institution that has been in business for more than a century closed its doors for the final time on Sunday.
Framingham Baking Company, known for its signature pizza trays, has officially shut down permanently. Crowds have been lining up around the block in the shop’s final days, with Sunday serving as their last day in business.
“That’s a wrap! Special thanks to all of our loyal customers! It was a great run. We love you!” Framingham Baking Company posted on Facebook Sunday after selling its final slices of pizza.
Founded in 1917, the bakery on Waverly Street became known for the square pizza slices.
The third-generation owners say they couldn’t find anyone to take over the business.
“We’re closing today after 109 years in business,” owner Joan Thomas said. “My grandparents, my parents, and my siblings – three generations have run this bakery.”
Customers explained why they were willing to wait in long lines to get their hands on some treats one more time.
“So many years of eating this pizza, and the bread, and the cookies. You had to be there for the end,” one woman said.
“My grandfather was a delivery guy for a long time. My first job was riding around with him in the van delivering to all the local restaurants. It’s tough to see it close, but it’s had an amazing run. Here for my last delivery. Bring some pizza home to my family,” another man added.
One customer waiting in line said it wasn’t just pizza the Framingham Baking Company provided, it was memories.
“Brought it to the cousins’ every birthday party, every gathering. Any time there was family there was pizza,” he said.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts’ middle-class income range is highest in US., topping out at over $200K
Here are five ways how you can save some money when food shopping.
Here are five ways how you can save some money when food shopping.
Your household can earn more than $200,000 a year and still be considered part of the “middle class” in Massachusetts, according to a recent study by SmartAsset.
Massachusetts ranks as the top state with the highest income range for households to be considered middle class, based on SmartAsset’s analysis using 2024 income data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households earning roughly two-thirds to twice the national median household income.
According to a 2022 Gallup survey, about half of U.S. adults consider themselves middle class, with 38% identifying as “middle class” and 14% as “upper-middle class.” Higher-income Americans and college graduates were most likely to identify with the “middle class” or “upper-middle class,” while lower-income Americans and those without a college education generally identified as “working class” or “lower class.”
Here’s how much money your household would need to bring in annually to be considered middle class in Massachusetts.
How much money would you need to make to be considered middle class in MA?
In Massachusetts, households would need to earn between $69,900 and $209,656 annually to be considered middle class, according to SmartAsset. The Bay State has the highest income range in the country for middle-class households. The state’s median household income is $104,828.
In Boston, the range is slightly lower. Households need to earn between $65,194 and $195,582 annually to qualify as middle class, giving the city the 19th-highest income range among the 100 largest U.S. cities. Boston’s median household income is $97,791.
How do other New England states compare?
Massachusetts has the highest income range for middle-class households in New England. Here’s what households would have to earn in neighboring states:
- Massachusetts (#1 nationally) – $69,885 to $209,656 annually; median household income of $104,828
- New Hampshire (#6 nationally) – $66,521 to $199,564 annually; median household income of $99,782
- Connecticut (#10 nationally) – $64,033 to $192,098 annually; median household income of $96,049
- Rhode Island (#17 nationally) – $55,669 to $167,008 annually; median household income of $83,504
- Vermont (#19 nationally) – $55,153 to $165,460 annually; median household income of $82,730
- Maine (#30 nationally) – $50,961 to $152,884 annually; median household income of $76,442
Which state has the lowest middle-class income range?
Mississippi ranks last for the income range needed to be considered middle class, according to SmartAsset. Households there would need to earn between $39,418 and $118,254 annually. The state’s median household income is $59,127.
Massachusetts
‘No Kings’ protests draw thousands against the Trump administration who are ‘fed up, pissed off, and also hopeful’ – The Boston Globe
Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey altered the lyrics of some songs to criticize Trump and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“Let’s ship them out of Boston,” he told the crowd, referring to ICE agents and echoing lyrics from “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” “Are you with us?”
Pressley followed, telling demonstrators the “world is on fire.”
“It is going to take every single one of us doing everything we can to put this fascist, white nationalist fire out,” Pressley said. “The only way to beat a dictator is with defiance.”

The flagship national demonstration was held in Minneapolis, where US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed in January during a massive federal immigration crackdown that ended last month.
Bruce Springsteen performed “Streets of Minneapolis,” the protest song released after the killing of Pretti with lyrics describing the city as “aflame” under “King Trump’s private army.”
In Massachusetts, organizers staged 169 demonstrations, said Rahsaan D. Hall, president and chief executive of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts and emcee for the Boston Common event.
Saturday’s gatherings marked the third time protesters have mobilized under the “No Kings” banner since the first protest last June. Another round of protests took place in October.
Demonstrators gathered as the US war in Iran entered its second month with oil prices surging and Trump declaring victory is at hand even as thousands of additional American troops head to the Middle East.
Within the GOP, congressional leaders are at odds over funding the US Department of Homeland Security, which has been partially shut down since mid-February and has a new leader, Markwayne Mullin. Trump fired his predecessor, Kristi Noem, earlier this month following controversies over her leadership.
Mihika Gogate, 24, who recently moved to Boston from North Carolina, said she was demonstrating for “absolutely everyone in this world that is suffering at the hands of the decisions of our fascist leader at the moment.”
She carried a sign depicting a Joker playing card featuring Trump with a crown on his head.
“I think, especially now, it’s such a scary time to be an adult in this world,” Gogate said. “It’s not just something that is affecting one of us. It’s affecting all our futures and our current realities.”


In Quincy, demonstrators gathered outside City Hall were encouraged to remain politically active.
“We hate what Donald Trump is doing. I’m tired of being in a state of exhaustion, and he’s bombarding us every day,” said Donna Cunningham, 51, a Quincy resident. “We need events like this to remind ourselves that we’re not alone in our little islands of our homes.”
On Boston Common, Sara Welch filmed the bustle as she walked through the park en route to Cheers. A resident of Hastings, Minn., Welch said she’s in the area for work.
“It means a lot, especially with everything that went on in our state with ICE,” Welch said.
Yet some questioned whether large demonstrations are generating the changes they seek.
Warren May, a demonstrator from Watertown, said the Women’s March held the day after Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 was the last time he participated in such a large protest.
“That was really kind of great and inspiring and wonderful, but look where we are now,” May said. “It’s just gotten worse.”
John Cluverius, who teaches political science at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, said the mass demonstrations signal to elected Democrats that the opposition to Trump “is real and is tangible.” His popularity has slipped since the last “No Kings” demonstrations in October, he said.
“Being the party out of power has a very isolating effect on both individuals and voters — the sense that they’re out of control of the destiny of the country,” Cluverius said. “There is almost an affirming effect for people to gather in these places and get the sense that even though they’re opposed to so many things that are happening, they’re not alone.”
There are also signs that the protests are pushing elected officials to answer demonstrators’ demands, Cluverius said.
On Friday, Senate Republicans abandoned vows to resist any deal for Department of Homeland Security funding that did not include money for ICE and US Customs and Border Protection, by voting to do just that.
“Senate Democrats … did not defect in any way, and I think that speaks to the fact that these rallies were today,” Cluverius said.
Several exhibitions on Boston Common brought attention to the impact of Trump’s policies.
An installation called “Eyes Wide Open — The Cost of War” featured rows of shoes, backpacks, and toys symbolizing the more than 160 children killed at an Iranian school during the opening day of US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
“We hope that this will cause people to pause and consider the humanitarian impact of this war,” said Ziba Cranmer, 54, who belongs to the Massachusetts chapter of the National Iranian American Council.
An ice sculpture reading “END ICE” was carved by artist Kat Carves.
“It’s a very powerful message,” said Lisa Mahoney, 66, of Beverly.
Most Americans disapprove of Trump’s performance as president, according to YouGov polling on behalf of The Economist, which found this month that his net approval rating is at -18 percentage points.
His deportation agenda, attacks on higher education, and efforts to nationalize elections are deeply unpopular in Massachusetts, which backed his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, in the 2024 election.
A February poll by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center found 72 percent of Massachusetts residents disapprove of Trump’s overall job performance, driven largely by fears that he threatens democracy.


Changes to the childhood vaccination schedule paused for now by a federal judge in Boston, new eligibility limits to public safety net programs under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, and research funding cuts have also drawn opposition here.
Sonya Shropshire-Friel of Dover, N.H., said her parents protested during the civil rights movement and were arrested as college students in Elizabeth City, N.C.
“I thought if they can do that, I can show up here today,” she said.
Trump’s rhetoric and the actions of his immigration enforcement agents “really make America unsafe,” Shropshire-Friel said.
“He has made people more inclined to be unkind and cruel toward one another,” she said. “I need to be out here with people who are also fed up, pissed off, and also hopeful.”
Laura Crimaldi can be reached at laura.crimaldi@globe.com. Follow her @lauracrimaldi. Anjali Huynh can be reached at anjali.huynh@globe.com. Aayushi Datta can be reached at aayushi.datta@globe.com.
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