GAME NOTES: Searching for a third consecutive win, the Providence Friars will entertain the Massachusetts Minutemen in a non-conference clash at the Dunkin' Donuts Center Saturday afternoon.

Massachusetts finally put a stop to a three-game losing streak last Saturday with a convincing 75-58 victory over Canisius at home. The win bumped UMass' record up to 6-4 on the season after the Minutemen began 2014-15 with a 5-1 ledger.

Providence enters this clash sporting an 8-3 record on the season, having won two straight games directly following a three-game skid. The Friars last took the court a week ago, defeating Stony Brook by a 79-61 score.

UMass and Providence have clashed 29 times on the court in their series history, with Providence owning a commanding 22-7 all-time advantage over the Minutemen. The programs met last season in Amherst, as Massachusetts came away with a 69-67 overtime victory.

Massachusetts asserted its dominance over Canisius very early in last Saturday's contest, as the Minutemen rushed to a 46-21 halftime advantage over the Golden Griffins, and never looked back. UMass connected on an even 50 percent of its shots from the floor, despite going 7-of-19 from 3-point range. Maxie Esho netted 20 points with nine rebounds to lead the team in both categories, while Cady Lalanne chipped in 16 points and eight boards, and Derrick Gordon netted 11 with eight rebounds and five assists in the win.

Lalanne started the season averaging a double-double for the Minutemen, but his rebound numbers have since dropped slightly. The big man comes into this game netting a team-best 14.5 ppg with 9.7 rpg and 24 blocked shots. Esho checks in behind Lalanne in scoring with 13.7 ppg on 55.4 percent shooting. Gordon (12.3 ppg) and Trey Davis (10.4 ppg) round out the team's group of double-digit scorers. As a unit, UMass is netting 74.8 ppg on 45 percent shooting, but defensively the team is surrendering 72.0 ppg to opponents.

Three consecutive losses seemed to derail the Friars, who hadn't lost a game prior to the team's meeting with top-ranked Kentucky. But the Friars are cooking once again, having won two in a row, including a thrashing of Stony Brook last weekend. Providence shot 41 percent from the field, and made 21- of-28 from the free-throw line in the 18-point win. LaDontae Henton scored 19 points to lead the team, adding in five rebounds. Kris Dunn chipped in with 15 points, seven boards and four assists, and Kyron Cartwright tallied a double- double of 10 points and 10 assists off the bench.

Providence's offensive numbers took a hit once the team dropped its first game to Kentucky, but after a 79-point outing against Stony Brook, things seem to be on the rise again. The Friars are netting 68.8 ppg on 45.1 percent shooting this season, and are allowing opponents to score 61.4 ppg. Henton tops the team with 18.9 ppg, followed by Dunn's 12.8 ppg and Tyler Harris' 12.1 ppg mark. Harris leads Providence in rebounding, bringing down 5.4 boards per outing. The Friars are an impressive 6-1 at home this season, so UMass has its work cut out for it on Saturday.

This should be a very evenly matched clash, with both teams featuring strong rebounding and post-scoring threats. Providence has the edge because the game is at home, but also because the team's guard play has been stellar.