A slow start plagued the UMass men’s basketball team on Wednesday against Towson. 

The Minutemen fell behind 22-10 early, with the Tigers ultimately taking a 36-27 lead into the half. Towson was able to keep UMass at arm’s length throughout the second half, never letting the Minutemen climb all the way back. The Tigers ultimately pulled away with an 81-71 victory at TU Arena. 

While UMass (4-2) never led in the second half, it had its chances to get back in the game. Towson (4-5) opened up a 42-31 lead early in the second half but the Minutemen cut the deficit to 42-37 with 18 minutes remaining following back-to-back and-ones from Keon Thompson. 

The Tigers answered with a run to go up 48-39 after Christian May drained a 3, but UMass came back with a run of its own. Thompson knocked down a jumper, sank a free throw and Matt Cross got inside for two to cut the lead to 48-45 with 15:26 to play. But that was as close as Towson let the Minutemen get, holding a multi-possession lead the rest of the way. 

It was May who gave the UMass defense fits throughout. The sophomore tossed in a game-high 27 points, going 8-for-10 from the field, 3-for-4 from 3-point land and 8-for-10 from the charity stripe. Dylan Williamson tallied 17 points while Charles Thompson joined them in double-figures with 11 points and 10 boards. 

Thompson led UMass with 19 points in the loss. Matt Cross finished with 17 points, Robert Davis Jr. scored 11 points while Rahsool Diggins chipped in 10 points in the defeat. 

It was a game where both squads lived at the free throw line. Towson shot 34 free throws and made 23 of them while the Minutemen went 14-for-20 from the line. Second chance opportunities also hurt UMass, with the Tigers pulling down 15 offensive rebounds and holding a 39-27 rebounding edge in the game. 

The Minutemen return home on Saturday to host UMass Lowell. That game is scheduled for noon at the Mullins Center. 

Boston College 95, UMass 57 — The host Eagles shot 56 percent from the floor, and connected on 9 of 17 three-point shots en route to a lopsided non-conference victory Wednesday night at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill.

BC (5-5) led 41-28 at halftime, but used a 12-2 run to open the third quarter. It was a monster frame for the Eagles, which made 10 of their first 11 shots in the third and outscored UMass by a 32-15 margin.

The Minutewomen (1-9) were led by Jermany Mapp’s 14 points, while Lilly Taulelei joined her in double figures with 12 and Stefanie Kulesza went for 11 points and seven rebounds. The visitors shot just 2-for-11 from behind the arc, and committed 21 turnovers on the night.

BC led 24-16 after one quarter, though a late 7-0 spurt from UMass had the club rally from an early 24-9 hole.

Five Eagles scored in double figures, led by 22 points from Teya Sidberry. BC outrebounded UMass by a 34-26 margin.

Next up for the Minutewomen is a home game against UMass Lowell on Sunday at noon.