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By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — For nearly 30 years of his life, UMass offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian has been a football coach. He’s had stints at the high school, collegiate and professional levels, his most recent gig being at Utah – where he was the program’s offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach.

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — Tied 2-2 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, a dormant UMass baseball offense needed a spark — its only two runs coming from Albany miscues.

By GARRETT COTE

Not even three minutes into the NCAA Division 3 women’s basketball national championship game, it was clear Smith College had its hands full with undefeated NYU — the reigning Div. 3 champions which held a 61-game winning streak entering Saturday. The Pioneers were well aware of just how dominant the Violets are considering they lost to them in last year’s title game, but after NYU ripped off the game’s first nine points, the journey to the top of the mountain became even steeper.

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — The stellar turnaround of Mike Leflar and his UMass women’s basketball team has earned them a chance to play postseason basketball, as their final season representing the Atlantic 10 isn’t over quite yet.

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — On two separate occasions this winter, Mullins Center staff spilled onto Jack Leaman Court as soon as the final horn sounded to end a UMass men’s basketball game. They aren’t typically in a huge rush to break down equipment, especially if the next event to take place in the arena is another basketball game, but the Minutemen hockey team had a game about five hours later – they needed to change the hardwood to the ice in time for warm-ups.

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — When Joe Harasymiak accepted the UMass football head coaching job back in early December, a handful of members on the Rutgers staff – where Harasymiak was previously the defensive coordinator – were excited for him. They also wanted to go with him based on the relationships they had built with him over the course of their time together.

By GARRETT COTE

The time has come for the UMass men’s basketball team, as it begins its trek through one final Atlantic 10 Conference tournament on Wednesday afternoon.

By GARRETT COTE

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 2025 Western Massachusetts Senior High School All-Star Game rosters Monday – and seven Greenfield Recorder area players made it across the three games scheduled to be played on Thursday, March 20 at the Hall of Fame in Springfield.

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — AJ Hairston dropped back to pass during the 11-on-11 live portion of the UMass football team’s first spring practice of the season Monday morning.

By GARRETT COTE

NORTHAMPTON — The Smith College women’s basketball team’s nine-point fourth quarter lead in the NCAA Division 3 Women’s Basketball second round had evaporated. Amherst College clawed its way back in it on the defensive end, holding the host Pioneers to just six points for the first 9 minutes, 30 seconds of the frame, and got a massive 3-pointer from guard Reagan Pahl with 13 seconds left to tie the game at 50 apiece. Smith’s deafening crowd turned silent as head coach Lynn Hersey called timeout to draw up a play.

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — When the final buzzer sounded to signal the end of the UMass men’s basketball team’s regular season, which ended in a 74-51 loss to Loyola Chicago on Saturday afternoon at Mullins Center, the arena’s staff immediately began tearing up the floorboards of Jack Leaman Court to get ready for the Minutemen’s hockey game at 7:30 p.m.

By GARRETT COTE

After defeating George Washington in their regular season finale on Feb. 26, the UMass women’s basketball team completed a turnaround for the ages and earned the No. 7 seed in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament.

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — Getting consecutive stops on the defensive end felt almost impossible for the UMass men’s basketball team through 30 minutes of action. Rhode Island used a 3-point barrage and timely Sebastian Thomas drives to the hoop to build a 77-67 lead with 10 minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the second half.

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — UMass men’s basketball head coach Frank Martin confirmed Thursday that senior forward Daniel Rivera would miss the remainder of the regular season with a knee injury. The third-year Minutemen head coach didn’t offer a timetable for Rivera’s return, but did say that he had been playing through an injury for about a month.

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — Emotions continued to run high well past the 40 minutes of action between the UMass women’s basketball team and Rhode Island. The two rivals had not only just played their last-ever Atlantic 10 matchup, but it was also the Minutewomen’s senior night – where they recognized Stefanie Kulesza and Mikenzie Jones. Head coach Mike Leflar and Kulesza both shed tears in the post game press conference following UMass’ 42-40 loss to the Rams on Sunday afternoon at the Mullins Center.

By GARRETT COTE

It feels like an eternity ago that the UMass men’s basketball team was in the mix for a second consecutive double bye in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament. Back on Feb. 4, the Minutemen gave away a late lead to Saint Louis with third place in the conference on the line. They beat La Salle the very next game, but have since dropped four in a row – losing by an average margin of 18.5 points.

By GARRETT COTE

GRANBY — Chad Softic tried to push every button he could in the first half of the No. 4 Mahar boys basketball team’s PVIAC Class C semifinal contest against No. 1 Granby.

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — Two themes continued to come up during UMass hockey head coach Greg Carvel’s postgame press conference following the Minutemen’s 4-1 loss to Boston College on Saturday night at Mullins Center: desperation and fatigue.

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — According to UMass men’s basketball coach Frank Martin, not one player in his usual starting five – Jaylen Curry, Rahsool Diggins, Jayden Ndjigue, Daniel Rivera and Daniel Hankins-Sanford – suited up for practice on Friday, just 24 hours before the Minutemen were set to host St. Bonaventure at the Mullins Center.

By GARRETT COTE

GREENFIELD — As the adage goes, the third time is the charm.

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — Through about 13 minutes of action, it looked as if the UMass men’s basketball team was going to do something very few teams have done all season: shut down Davidson forward Reed Bailey, who leads the Atlantic 10 in points per game (20.0) this year.