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GAME NOTES: The Mullins Center in Amherst is the site of this afternoon's Atlantic 10 Conference clash between the Saint Joseph's Hawks and the Massachusetts Minutemen.

Saint Joseph's has suffered four losses in the last five games to fall to 9-15 overall and 3-7 in conference. The Hawks struggled at the offensive end in a 56-52 loss to Saint Louis the last time out, and they carry a woeful 1-8 record in true road games into today's tilt.

As for Massachusetts, it managed to halt a three-game skid with an 84-80 overtime victory over Duquesne. The Minutemen are now 9-15 overall, including 3-7 in A-10 action, and six of their wins have come at home.

The Minutemen beat the Hawks in an 87-80 final in Philadelphia on January 27th, and they own a 29-27 advantage in the all-time series between the two.

This has clearly been a difficult season for Saint Joseph's, which is putting up 69.7 ppg while allowing 74.4 ppg. Darrin Govens is netting 13.1 ppg to pace the Hawks, but he is shooting a mere 38.4 percent from the floor. Garrett Williamson adds 11.3 ppg, and he leads the club with 91 assists and 42 steals. Idris Hilliard is the third and final double-digit scorer in the fold with 11.0 ppg. The biggest problem for Saint Joseph's is that it has been dominated on the boards by an average of 7.5 rpg. The fact that the Hawks outrebounded Saint Louis by 11 on Tuesday and still lost the game was disheartening. Saint Joseph's shot a lowly 37.3 percent from the field, including 2-of-12 from three-point range. Williamson led the way in defeat with 13 points.

Ricky Harris has been the leading scorer for UMass in seven straight games, and he is averaging 19.2 ppg this season. The only other double-digit scorer in the fold for the Minutemen is Anthony Gurley, who is pouring in 14.5 ppg. UMass is generating 72.1 ppg on 40.6 percent shooting from the field, while permitting 75.6 ppg to foes. The Minutemen are strong on the boards, as they are outrebounding opponents by nearly five rpg despite the negative scoring differential. UMass limited Duquesne to 39.1 percent shooting from the field in the recent victory. The Minutemen earned a staggering 60-33 rebounding advantage in the tilt, and Harris exploded for 29 points to go along with six assists. As for Gurley, he contributed 20 points off the bench.

The home crowd will make a difference in this game, leading the Minutemen to victory. Expect UMass to lead from start to finish.