Dec. 9, 2008

LOWELL - Freshman G Kyle Caiola (Parma, OH) scored 19 points and sophomore G Max Kerman (Watertown, MA) added a career-high 15 as UMass Lowell defeated Assumption, 74-65, Tuesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball tilt at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the win, the River Hawks improved to 6-3 overall (3-3 in the NE-10) and enjoy a 20-day hiatus until the Pace University Holiday Classic Dec. 29-30 in Pleasantville, NY.

The loss halted a string of three straight wins for Assumption, which slipped to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the Conference.

"That was a hard fought game and our kids played their hearts out," said UML Head Coach Greg Herenda. "Kyle Caiola and Max Kerman had really solid offensive nights."

Caiola converted 6 of 11 field goal attempts and also added four rebounds and three steals. Kerman hit all four of his 3-point field goals and shot 3 of 4 from the free throw line while snatching eight rebounds.

Junior Kevin Carr (Lancaster, OH) came off the bench to add 16 points and three steals in 23 minutes while junior F Victor Colon (Chicago, IL) chipped in 10 points.

Sophomore F Savoy Fraine (Granada Hills, CA) led the Greyhounds with 17 points as he meshed 6 of 9 field goal attempts and 5 of 6 from the free throw line. Senior F Patrick Shea (Salem, MA) added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists before drawing his fifth foul with 3:19 to play.

Postgraduate F Greg Twomey (Groton, MA) chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.

The River Hawks outscored Assumption 33-9 from the 3-point line (11-26), which buffered the Greyhounds 13-4 edge on second chances and 16-10 advantage off turnovers.

UMass Lowell had an 11-6 advantage on steals and was also the beneficiary of the Greyhounds .579 shooting from the free throw line (22-38), including 4-13 in the first half.

The River Hawks led 43-38 with 15:12 to play and used a 9-2 spurt to post a 52-39 lead with 11:47 remaining, fueled by treys from Kerman and Colon. UMass Lowell never let Assumption within nine points the rest of the way.

"It was a big win for us to get to .500 in the Conference and go into the break with a great confidence boost," said Herenda.

UMass Lowell led 38-26 at the break, ending the half with an 11-4 run highlighted by a trey from Carr.