Once the snow is all cleared outside, be sure to warm up with NESN on Wednesday night for some Atlantic 10 college basketball action between UMass and Xavier.
Xavier hosts UMass live from the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m.
Both the Minuteman and Musketeers won their Atlantic 10 conference openers and both teams sport 9-5 overall records
UMass is coming off a 55-50 win over Dayton on Sunday. The Minuteman defense held the Flyers to a 28.6 shooting percentage. On the offensive side of the ball, Anthony Gurley led the team in scoring with 15 points.
Gurley, a Boston native and graduate of Newton North High School, averaged 20.4 points-per-game last season, and he has scored at least 12 points in every game this season and is now 35th all time in scoring at UMass, with 1,051 points.
Xavier comes into tonight’s game riding high after trouncing Rhode Island 72-45 on Sunday.The Musketeers were led by junior Tu Holloway’s 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists while senior Jamel McLean had 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Xavier, who has four players averaging in double-figures (Holloway 20.1 ppg., Mark Lyons 12.1 ppg., McLean 11.4 ppg. and Kenny Frease 11.2 ppg.), has won 32 straight Atlantic 10 home games and is just two shy of the A-10 record.
Xavier leads the overall series 13-8, including a 87-79 win in the two teams’ last meeting on Jan. 3, 2010.
Tune in to NESN at 7 p.m. for all the action.
