AMHERST — The good news for UMass is the rematch with La Salle is at home. The bad news is Pookie Powell is expected to play this time.
In the Explorers 88-78 win in the teams’ previous game on Feb. 1 in Philadelphia, the sophomore guard was sideline with a knee injury. He’ll be back when the Minutemen and La Salle square off, Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Mullins Center. The 6-foot-0 sophomore transfer guard from Memphis is averaging 13.2 points and 4.4 rebounds.
Powell missed six games before returning last week. He’s average 12.0 points and 5.0 rebounds since he returned.
The Minutemen will try to slow him and B.J. Johnson. In the first meeting the Syracuse transfer had 28 points against UMass. He’s sixth in the league with 17.7 points per game.
La Salle is the Atlantic 10’s second highest scoring team at 77.0 points per game, but gives up a league worst 77.2 and allows opponent to shoot 47.3 percent over all and 391. from 3-point range, which is also at the bottom of the conference.
Since beating UMass, the Explorers are 2-4 including Tuesday’s 67-56 loss to Rhode Island at home.
SCOREBOARD WATCHING — At 3-12, UMass is currently tied with Duquesne and Saint Joseph’s in 12th in Atlantic 10 play, a game back of Saint Louis (4-11). SLU and St. Joe’s play each other, while Duquesne is at St. Bonaventure.
The Explorers are currently tied with George Mason in sixth place in league play. There’s plenty of room to move up for down as La Salle is just a game back of St. Bonaventure (9-6) and two back of Rhode Island and Richmond (both 10-5), who are tied for third.
It’s just a game up on Davidson, George Washington and Fordham, which are all tied for eighth.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage