The Minutemen have won back-to-back games after seven straight losses.

UMass picked up a win on homecoming weekend in Amherst. (J. Anthony Roberts/The Republican via AP)

By Associated Press

November 4, 2023

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — Greg Desrosiers Jr. ran for 162 yards and three touchdowns to lift Massachusetts past Merrimack, 31-21, in a non-conference game on Saturday night, giving the Minutemen their first home field victory of the season.

UMass (3-7 Independent) has now won back-to-back games since losing seven straight.

Desrosiers’ 8-yard run with 3:02 left in the first half gave UMass a 14-7 halftime lead, then he broke the game open with touchdown runs of 57 and 46 yards.

Desrosiers had 10 carries and Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams added 88 yards on 23 carries. Taisun Phommachanh was 9 of 20, passing for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Malakai Anthony was 10 of 26 passing for 98 yards and added another 18 yards and a touchdown on seven carries for Merrimack (4-5). Tyvon Edmonds Jr. had 20 carries for 75 yards.