AMHERST — UMass got seven points from its starting guard and just 16 points from the entire starting lineup.

But the bench came to the rescue in an uneven game Wednesday as the Minutemen held off Saint Joseph’s, 62-57, at the Mullins Center.

Each team could watch the game film and think with fewer mistakes, it might have won easily. The Hawks led by a dozen in the first half and UMass held an eight-point edge late in the second half. But with 2 minutes, 30 seconds left, James Demery made one of two free throws to cap a 9-1 run and tie the game 53-53.

Zach Lewis, who had carried UMass for much of the game, missed a baseline shot, but Rashaan Holloway grabbed the rebound in traffic and was fouled as he laid it back in.

He missed the free throw as the Minutemen clung to a 55-53 lead with 1:55 left.

At the other end, miscommunication led to Lamarr Kimble’s ninth turnover as the Hawks point guard threw a pass out of bounds. Donte Clark, who’d been quiet, drove into the lane, up-faked to fool Nick Robinson into jumping early and laid the ball in to make it 57-53 with 1:18 left.

After another Hawk turnover, Lewis missed an open 3, but Holloway grabbed the board and fed C.J. Anderson slashing to the basket.

The junior threw down a one-handed dunk to make it 59-53 with 26 seconds left.

Still, UMass couldn’t quite get comfortable. Between two free throws by Demery (19 points, 11 rebounds) and two by Kimble, Clark hit just one free throw as the Hawks got within three with 15 seconds left.

Demery quickly fouled Lewis with 13 seconds left for a one-and-one.

Lewis had only attempted 14 free throws all year before Wednesday and only four since November. But the junior made both to cap his season-high 23-point night and seal the win.

“I’m ecstatic that we came away win the win. After being down 24-12, I wasn’t sure we’d ever score again,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. “It was nice to see we made some winning plays after not playing a beautiful game. We made a few winning plays down the stretch.”

St. Joe’s coach Phil Martelli said Lewis’ shooting helped offset his team’s zone defense that had frustrated UMass early.

“When they were dead in the water against our zone in the first half, he was the one that got them going,” Martelli said. “Some nights you have to say the other guy is better. He was better.”

Led by Lewis, UMass’ bench rescued it from a brutal early shooting performance. The Minutemen missed their first four shots and fell behind 9-0, 2:11 into the game.

The Hawks held UMass’ starters scoreless for the first 13:19 until Holloway scored in traffic against a double team. It was the only points UMass didn’t get from its bench all half.

The Minutemen had made just 5 of 20 shots and trailed 24-12 with 5:10 remaining before Lewis and C.J. Anderson took control. UMass closed the half on a 17-5 run. Lewis had nine of his points in that stretch on three 3s, while Anderson had six on a pair of 3s, including one with 4.1 seconds left that tied the game 29-29 at intermission.

“Shots just weren’t falling,” Anderson said. “We were taking some really good shots. For us to keep our confidence and keep shooting, I give big props to my team.”

The Minutemen (12-7, 2-4 Atlantic 10) fell behind again in the second half as the Hawks (8-9, 2-4) led 42-38 with 13:04 left, but UMass answered with 12 straight points to lead 50-42.

The Minutemen host Fordham, Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and have a rematch against the Hawks in Philadelphia on Feb. 11.

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage