GREENVILLE, N.C. - Sampson Carter's season is done.

The University of Massachusetts junior forward will have surgery to repair an injured labrum muscle in his hip and will apply for a medical redshirt.

He did not make the trip to North Carolina with the Minutemen Tuesday. UMass beat East Carolina 63-58.

"It looks like he's going to do the surgery and apply for a redshirt, if he's going to have to play at a lesser percentage or just can't do it physically," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. "It's probably a good move for him. I would like to have had him around as one more option, but it's about what's good for the kid."

Carter was tied for second in scoring for the Minutemen with 8.6 points per game off the bench.

Because Carter played in just seven games, which is less than a third of UMass' total games, and the season hasn't reached the halfway point, he's eligible to receive a medical redshirt.

He'll return next year as a junior and have two seasons left.

Redshirting Carter means UMass will have one fewer scholarship to offer next year as he'll join Raphiael Putney and Chaz Williams in the class of 2014.

Freshman Maxie Esho will see the biggest increase in minutes in Carter's absence, while Putney, Terrell Vinson and Javorn Farrell will all get additional playing time.

THIEVES - The game between two of the nation's top five teams in steals per game produced 22 takeaways. UMass had nine steals, led by Williams' four, while Miguel Paul had six of ECU's 14.

NEXT UP - The Minutemen head back to Massachusetts and will face Siena at 7 p.m. Friday at the MassMutual Center in the Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase. The start time is somewhat tentative because it's the third game of a quadruple-header.

The Saints are 3-5 after beating Albany on Monday.

HOMECOMING - Sean Carter, playing in his final regular season game in his home state, scored the first UMass basket for the fourth time in as many games and finished with nine points and seven rebounds.

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Follow UMass coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/GazetteUMass. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at http://www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.