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JERREY ROBERTS

Sean Carter, left, and Maxie Esho, right, of the University of Massachusetts, reach for a rebound beside Davidson defenders Will Reigel, left, and JP Kuhlman on Thursday at the Mullins Center. UMass won 73-65.

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Former University of Massachusetts All-American Lou Roe was in the crowd Thursday night at the Mullins Center to watch the Minutemen defeat Davidson 73-65.

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JERREY ROBERTS

Javorn Farrell of the University of Massachusetts, left, drives to the basket against Chris Czerapowicz of Davidson Thursday at the Mullins Center. UMass won 73-65.

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JERREY ROBERTS

Maxie Esho, left, and Jesse Morgan, background, both of the University of Massachusetts, box in Nik Cochran of Davidson on Thursday at the Mullins Center. UMass won 73-65.

AMHERST - Once one of the most popular players ever to play at the Mullins Center, former University of Massachusetts All-American Lou Roe had never seen a game there from the stands.

But home from Argentina, where he's in his 17th season as a professional player, Roe was in the crowd with his four children Thursday to watch the Minutemen beat Davidson, 73-65.

"It's really weird" to be in the stands, Roe said. "But it's special to be here with my children."

Roe, who played with UMass coach Derek Kellogg for four seasons, had plans to meet the team after the game at Kellogg's house. He said it's strange to see his former teammate as the coach.

"It's weird," he said. "I'm very happy for him. What better guy could you have as the head coach. He knows what it takes to win. I'm sure he's going to be successful."

Roe, who played in Spain, Italy, Korea and Mexico before his current South American spot, said this is his last season.

"It's tough when you have children back home, you don't get to see them as much," Roe said. "It's been pretty tough the past few years."

Roe said he hoped to get into college coaching and  has discussed that with Kellogg. "I've talked to Derek. I've talked to everyone about it," Roe said.

Roe is one of a long line of ex-Minutemen to attend a home game this season as Gary Forbes, Tony Barbee, Harper Williams and Chris Kirkland have all been in the crowd.

CZERAPOWICZ CONTINGENT - Much of the sizable collection of fans behind the Wildcat bench were there to root for Chris Czerapowicz. The 6-foot-7 wing grew up in Sweden, but his father Dan Czerapowicz was a star player at Northampton High School and still has family and friends in the area, many of whom turned out for the game.

Battling a hip injury that he aggravated against Kansas, Czerapowicz had no points and one rebound in 13 minutes. Wildcat coach Bob McKillop praised his potential after the game.

"Chris Czerapowicz has a chance to become a very special player for us," McKillop said. "He struggled tonight."

FOUR-POINT PLAY - With 15:37 left in the second half, Maxie Esho completed the first four-point play for UMass since Anthony Gurley had one on Jan. 24, 2009 against La Salle. It was not only the first four-point play of the redshirt freshman's career, but the first 3-pointer he's ever made. He'd missed his previous four tries. The play kicked off a 12-0 Minuteman run.

NEXT UP - UMass hosts Central Connecticut at 7 p.m. Dec. 30.  The Blue Devils fell to 5-6 after losing to La Salle 85-59 at home Thursday.

MISCELLANEOUS - With 7:16 left in the first half, Davidson's Clint Mann went up for a defensive rebound when his apparently too loose shorts didn't follow him and fell around his knees. Fortunately he was wearing compression shorts.

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.