Recap: La Salle vs. Massachusetts

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Chaz Williams finished with just six points, but he connected on the game-winning layup with eight seconds left to lift the Massachusetts Minutemen to a 61-60 triumph over the La Salle Explorers in Atlantic 10 Conference action at Tom Gola Arena.

Raphiael Putney led the way with 17 points for UMass (14-5, 4-2 A-10), which has won four of its last five games. Maxie Esho (11 points) and Cady Lalanne (nine points, 10 rebounds) were both solid from off the bench.

For La Salle (14-6, 4-3), Jerrell Wright and Ramon Galloway each scored 16 points, while Tyreek Duren netted 10 points. Galloway also dished out six assists for the Explorers, who won back-to-back games over ranked foes Butler and VCU last week.

UMass shot 15-of-32 from the field in the first half as it took a 33-27 lead into intermission. La Salle was 11-of-26 from the field in the opening 20 minutes.

The Minutemen led by as many as nine in the second half, but the Explorers battled back to take a 51-50 lead with 8:03 to play on a Steve Zack bucket. The teams exchanged several leads in the ensuing minutes until La Salle went back up by one, 60-59, with 38 seconds to play on a Duren layup. Williams answered for UMass on its final possession, and on La Salle's last gasp, Putney blocked a Wright shot at the buzzer to seal the win for the Minutemen.

UMass won the rebounding battle, 37-35.