La Salle Explorers (10-5) vs. UMass Minutemen (10-4)
January 10, 2024 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: UMass Minutemen -10.5 / La Salle Explorers +10.5; Over/Under: +153.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The La Salle Explorers and the UMass Minutemen meet in college basketball action from the Mullins Memorial Center on Wednesday night. Two 1-1 teams in A-10 conference play, who comes out on top? Let’s dive in and find out with our La Salle vs. UMass Prediction.
La Salle Team Preview
The La Salle Explorers come into this one looking to build on an 81-76 win over Fordham in their last matchup. Khalil Brantley leads the Explorers in scoring with 15.9 PPG along with 4.9 RPG and 4.2 APG while Jhamir Brickus has 14.5 PPG with 3.1 RPG and a team-high 5.1 APG to lead La Salle in assists up to this point in the year. Anwar Gill has 10.9 PPG with 3.9 RPG and 3.4 APG and Daeshon Sheppard has 10.6 PPG with a team-high 6.2 RPG to lead La Salle on the glass and round out the group of double-digit scorers for La Salle up to this point in the year. As a team, La Salle is averaging 77 PPG on 44.5% shooting from the field, 35.4% from three and 73.7% from the foul line this season. La Salle will face VCU and Saint Joseph’s after this game.
UMass Team Preview
The UMass Minutemen come into this game looking to rebound from a 64-60 loss at the hands of Dayton in their last matchup. Josh Cohen leads the Minutemen in scoring with 16.6 PPG along with 6.5 RPG while Matt Cross has 16.6 PPG with a team-high 8.6 RPG and 3.2 APG to lead UMass on the glass this season. Rahsool Diggins has 11.6 PPG with 2.1 APG to cap off the scoring in double figures for UMass while Keon Thompson also has 9.8 PPG with 3.9 RPG and a team-high 3.4 APG to lead the Minutemen in the assist department as well this season. As a team, UMass is averaging 82.1 PPG on 46.5% shooting from the field, 31.3% from three and 68.5% from the foul line this season.
La Salle vs. UMass Prediction
I’m rolling with La Salle and the points. I think this is simply a case of too many points as La Salle can hold their own in this matchup as they have in years past. The Minutemen have had some strong offensive showings here, but the Explorers are no slouch and should be able to keep this one reasonably close. Give me La Salle and the points.
