Minutemen Drop Defensive Battle 75-69 In Morgantown

Minutemen Defense Struggles

The UMass Minutemen fell to the West Virginia Mountaineers 75-69 in Morgantown on Tuesday night. The Minutemen were led by Tre Mitchell's 19 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome a poor defensive performance.

West Virginia shot 50% from the field, including 40% from three-point range. The Mountaineers also outrebounded the Minutemen 37-28.

The Minutemen's defense struggled to contain West Virginia's guards. The Mountaineers' Erik Stevenson and Joe Toussaint combined for 33 points.

Minutemen Offense Shows Signs Of Improvement

Despite the loss, the Minutemen offense showed signs of improvement. Mitchell, Noah Fernandes, and Matt Cross all scored in double figures.

The Minutemen shot 42% from the field and 33% from three-point range. They also committed just 10 turnovers.

The Minutemen's offense is still a work in progress, but it showed some positive signs against West Virginia.

Defense Remains A Concern

The Minutemen's defense, however, remains a concern. They have allowed opponents to score 70 or more points in four of their last five games.

The Minutemen need to find a way to improve their defense if they want to be successful this season.

The Minutemen will return to action on Saturday when they host the George Mason Patriots.