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).
Life Care Center of Raynham has received a deficiency‑free inspection result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a distinction awarded to a small share of the state’s licensed nursing homes, according to a community announcement.
The inspection was conducted as part of the state’s routine, unannounced nursing home survey process overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These comprehensive, multi‑day inspections evaluate multiple aspects of facility operations, including staffing levels, quality of care, medication management, cleanliness, food service and resident rights.
State survey records show that Life Care Center of Raynham met required standards during its most recent standard survey, with no deficiencies cited, based on publicly available state data.
The announcement states that fewer than 8% of Massachusetts nursing homes achieve deficiency‑free survey results. That figure could not be independently verified through state or federal data and is attributed to the announcement.
In addition to the state survey outcome, the facility is listed as a five‑star provider for quality measures on the federal Medicare Care Compare website. The five‑star quality measure rating reflects above‑average performance compared with other nursing homes nationwide, according to federal rating methodology.
Officials said the inspection results reflect ongoing compliance with state and federal standards designed to protect resident health and safety. According to the announcement, the outcome is attributed to staff performance and internal quality practices.
This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
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Massachusetts residents love their beach towns.
And Condé Nast Magazine loves two particular beach towns in the Bay State, but surprisingly didn’t pick a beach on Cape Cod.
That’s why the towns were included on the magazine’s 2025 list of the 17 best beach towns on the East Coast.
“Whether you’re looking to lay out on the sand in summer or prefer walking along the water spotting wildlife and collecting rocks, the shores of the East Coast have a little something for everyone,” Condé Nast stated on its website.
Here’s more about the magazine’s favorite beach towns in Massachusetts.
Oak Bluffs ranked No. 5 on the list
Coming in at number 5 is one of the most popular spots on Martha’s Vineyard – Oak Bluffs.
What they said: “The colorful gingerbread houses for which Oak Bluffs is known are straight out of a storybook. Visitors walk straight off their boats into Ocean Park, a circular green overlooking the sea, encircled by said houses, with a frothy, delicate gazebo sitting in the center. Oak Bluffs has a long history of welcoming Black visitors, and today it is home to the annual African-American Film Festival.”
Rockport ranked No. 4 on the list
Rockport is a town on the North Shore of the Bay State.
What they said: “The coastal region is known for its excellent seafood, beautiful beaches, and historic landmarks. Many a good film has been filmed here as well, such as Martin Scorsese’s ‘Shutter Island’ and Kenneth Lonergan’s ‘Manchester-by-the-Sea.’
“Forty miles north of Boston, (Rockport) has a can’t-miss natural gem in Halibut Point State Park, from which visitors can spot Maine in the distance 80 miles away. Rockport is also beloved by art history buffs: it is home to Motif Number 1, a fishing shack with the superlative ‘the most-often painted building in America.’ It was built in 1840, and was a popular subject because it represented New England’s nautical character.”
What other regions of New England are on the list?
According to Condé Nast, they include:
- Bar Harbor, Maine
- Kennebunkport, Maine
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
- Madison, Connecticut
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