UMass reaches title game

NEW YORK -- Dante Milligan made a touching and triumphant return to the arena he practically grew up in, and with a few encouraging words from his mother seated courtside, helped Massachusetts into the NIT championship.

The undersized post player had 17 points, 12 rebounds and made several blocks late, and the Minutemen defeated two-time defending NCAA champion Florida 78-66 on Tuesday night.

The starters scored all but 2 points for the Minutemen, who will play either Ohio State or Mississippi on Thursday night.

It was Milligan who made things happen in the second half, though, rallying UMass from a 9-point deficit after hearing his mother Ruby shout something -- he wouldn't say what -- a couple minutes after the break.

"That's for me to keep right here," Milligan said, pointing to his heart. "She yelled something that changed my whole focus for the game.

"She's been through so much trying to raise me and my brother when we were younger."

Three years ago, Milligan's brother died in a random shooting in his old East Harlem neighborhood, and the Garden and the New York Knicks established a scholarship fund in Alonzo's honor.