The future saved the UMass men’s basketball team’s present.

Three freshmen combined for 40 points, as the Minutemen defeated Rhode Island 69-45 on Saturday in the Ryan Center to snap a five-game losing streak. It was UMass’ first Atlantic 10 road win of the season.

Keon Thompson put in 15 points with six rebounds and five assists, RJ Luis scored 14 points with seven rebounds and Tafara Gapare added 11 points and seven rebounds.

“Guys answered the bell. Guys have been asking for guidance as to how they can help us and play. They had their numbers called , and every one of them helped us win with their attention to detail and competitiveness,” UMass coach Frank Martin said.

Gapare splashed a 3 with 6 minutes, 44 seconds to halftime that gave UMass (14-13, 5-10 Atlantic 10) the lead for good, 21-19. It sparked a 10-2 run.

Rhode Island (8-18, 4-10) led 13-7 early, as guard Ishmael Leggett scored 13 of the Rams’ first 15 points. He finished with 18, as Rhode Island shot just 25 percent form the field. The Rams went 4-of-25 from 3-point range.

UMass switched to a zone early and rode supersized lineups featuring a combination of Isaac Kante (nine points, eight rebounds) Gianni Thompson (six rebounds), Wildens Leveque and Gapare prowling the paint. The Minutemen won the rebounding battle 46-37 and outscored Rhode Island 40-22 in the paint. They blocked seven shots led by Leveque’s three.

“As the game wore on, that physicality at the rim wore them down,” Martin said. 

Luis didn’t play much of the first half after picking up two fouls in the first three minutes. He scored 12 points after halftime and shot 60 percent from the field while wearing a clear plastic mask to protect a healing broken nose.

Rahsool Diggins also added nine points and hit a 3, making four-of-five shots.

UMass shot 50 percent from the field and held the Rams to a season-low point total.

“(Friday) was the most disciplined, physical defensive practice that we’ve had in a while,” Martin said. “I told the team after the last game ‘I’m done trying to be the rah rah guy.’ As soon as we made a mistake, we got to the line and we ran. I gotta fight for the culture right now. That’s what I did, that’s what my staff did, and give the players credit, they responded.”

The Minutemen did it with just eight players since they were missing point guard Noah Fernandes (ankle), Matt Cross (MCL) and Dyondre Dominguez (non-COVID illness). Dominguez should be back at practice Monday, Martin said.

UMass will need all the help it can get against conference No. 2 Dayton on Wednesday at the Mullins Center (7 p.m. CBS Sports).

Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.]]>