Tym Brown

Minutemen add rim protection with BYU transfer and former G Leaguer Abdullah Ahmed. The Egyptian big man has averaged over a block per game in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL), G League and Big 12.

@MDC_Sports has a series of great features coming out over the next few weeks, with the first releasing this morning. Coleman Smith-Rakoff took a deep dive into Marcus Banks Jr.’s story, highlighting the long road he took to thrive in Amherst. READ: dailycollegian.com/2026/04/ultima…

Minutemen land a former B10 recruit and Medford, MA, native. Clayton played with Jayden Ndjigue as part of Mass Rivals on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit, and now reunites with his old AAU teammate in Amherst.

NEWS: UMass F Charles Outlaw has entered the transfer portal. JUCO transfer averaged 1.5/1.0 in 8 games this season.

"If they want to play, I'm in, they don't have to convince me to play the game, I know it means a lot to UMass people." - Frank Martin after UMass beat BC on Dec. 10, 2025 Looks like there truly was no convincing needed, the Minutemen in for another Commonwealth Classic.

Seattle finally getting a team again warms my heart. Feels like I've heard fans clamoring for this since I started watching the NBA, could imagine a few players from the area are eager to rep their long lost home team.

UMass' season ended in the MAC semifnals at the hands of a strong Toledo backcourt. My final side of the season for @MDC_Sports ⬇️ dailycollegian.com/2026/03/minute…

FINAL: Toledo 77 - 67 UMass Rockets' Mynor Strong, Leroy Blyden Jr. and Sonny Wilson pound the paint to eliminate the Minutemen. Bettiol led UMass with 21 points in his final collegiate game. Banks Jr. and Hankins-Sanford also end their collegiate careers in the loss.

Time is UMass' enemy now as it trails 72-61 with 3:36 left in the game. Dimitri Clerc will be at the foul line coming out of the break, he can make this a three-possession game. Toledo is just a few buckets and stops away from clinching a spot in the MAC final.

Mynor Strong nails a transition triple to put Toledo up 70-60 with 6:39 left to go. Bettiol and Carbuccia continue to produce on offense for UMass, but the Minutemen's defense can't keep up with the Rockets' quick backcourt.

The pressure is on, and UMass responded with a 7-0 run. A Jayden Ndjigue and-1 giving the Minutemen life is a familiar sight from yesterday's game, but the media timeout could pause their momentum. Toledo still leads 61-53 with 11:17 left in the game.

Toledo has opened up its largest lead of the game at 61-46, the Rockets can do no wrong on offense right now. The Minutemen need statement plays on both sides of the ball now if they want any hope of a comeback. Under-12 media timeout is approaching.

Toledo is shooting 63% from the field, they're getting a lot of easy looks in the paint. Just now, Austin Parks found Sean Craig under the hoop for an and-1. UMass desperately needs to find a way to get stops, it trails 54-44 with 15:54 left in the game.

Halftime report in Cleveland from @DeanWende1 and @tym_brown1. Toledo 43, UMass 34

UMass trails 43-34 at halftime after a Leroy Blyden Jr. triple capped an 8-1 Toledo run. The only Minutemen point in the last 2:30 of the half was a Carbuccia free throw. Carbuccia and Bettiol are the only starters with multiple made field goals for UMass.

Leroy Blyden Jr. and co. have steadied the Toledo offense, the Rockets lead 33-29 with 3:16 left in the half. Bettiol and Carbuccia remain the Minutemen's motors scoring-wise, but defensively, only a 1-3-1 zone has occasionally slowed Toledo down.

A 9-2 run for UMass has them trailing 24-20 with 7:47 left in the first half. The offense is running through Danny Carbuccia, his downhill drives are creating good looks for the Minutemen. The Toledo offense has gone dry since Wilson sat, someone else will have to step up soon.

The Minutemen are piecing it together on offense after five early turnovers. Bettiol and Daniel Hankins-Sanford are taking it to the paint almost every possession now. Sonny Wilson is unstoppable right now for the Rockets, they lead 20-11 with 11:40 left in the first half.

UMass is down 12-2 at the first media timeout. Only points are on free throws for Leonardo Bettiol, Toledo is protecting the paint and the glass well so far. On offense, Rockets have hit two threes early on and are putting Bettiol in a ton of actions so far.

Tym Brown and Cole Smith-Rakoff with a Minuteman Minute for UMass/Toledo. MAC semifinal tips off at 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.