UMass keeps La Salle at bay for 66-59 win

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) Donte Clark scored 16 of his 23 points in the first half and Massachusetts held La Salle at bay in the second for a 66-59 win on Sunday.

UMass (14-9, 7-3 Atlantic 10) matched its largest lead of 12 points at 48-36 with 11:04 to go. La Salle (13-10, 5-5) scored eight straight to close within 48-44, but the Minutemen kept their lead between four and eight points the rest of the way.

Lalanne finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds and Maxie Esho also scored 11.

The freshman Clark made a season-high five 3-pointers on seven attempts and finished two points short of the personal best (25) he set against Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 7.

Jordan Price led the Explorers with 30 points. His missed a 3-point attempt with 25 seconds left that would have closed the deficit to two. UMass made all four free throws from there.