AMHERST, Mass., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Anthony Anderson scored 25 points and Jackie Rogers added 17 Thursday night as Massachusetts posted a 68-56 victory over the 24th-ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack.
North Carolina State (7-2) built its record with seven wins at home over lightweights such as Fairleigh Dickinson, Wofford, Coppin State and North Carolina A&T. This was the Wolfpack's first true road game as its first loss was a 69-61 setback to Gonzaga on Dec. 17 in East Rutherford, N.J.
The Wolfpack missed their first 12 shots of the second half as Massachusetts (5-6) scored 10 straight points, taking a 42-27 lead on a pair of free throws by freshman Michael Lasme with 16:28 remaining. It was part of an 18-2 run bridging both halves that helped the Minutemen establish control.
UMass freshman Jeff Viggiano was the catalyst with six points in a 10-0 burst to start the second half. Viggiano has averaged 14.7 points in his last three games after scoring a total of only 14 points in his first eight games.
NC State finally broke its drought on Julius Hodge's three-point play with 8:53 to go, part of a 9-2 surge in which Hodge did all the scoring to cut the deficit to 44-39.
Anderson's 3-pointer capped an 8-2 run by the Minutemen for a 52-41 cushion with 5:13 left.
