Nov. 15, 2008

LOWELL - Freshman G Sean Romsek (Fowlerville, MI) scored 18 points in 19 minutes as UMass Lowell defeated Mercy College, 71-48, Saturday night in the first round of the UMass Lowell Tipoff Men's Basketball Classic at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the victory, the River Hawks improved to 1-0 and host St. Thomas Aquinas Sunday night at 8:00. Mercy slipped to 0-1 and meets Merrimack Sunday at 6:00.

Romsek converted 6 of 11 field goal attempts - including 4 of 8 from long range - and also dished three assists. Freshman G Kyle Caiola (Parma, IN) added 15 points, five assists and five rebounds while junior C Ali Kanaan (Montreal, QUE) chipped in 11 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots while shooting 5 for 8 from the floor.

Sophomore guards Kortney Parker (Mount Vernon, NY) and Jimmy Gunville (Raynham, MA) each scored nine points to lead the Mavericks.

The River Hawks outrebounded Mercy 52-30 (21-9 off the offensive glass) and outscored them from 3-point range 36-15. Mercy committed 23 turnovers and UMass Lowell 19, but it was the River Hawks who capitalized, outscoring the Mavericks 27-15 off turnovers.

UMass Lowell raced to a 22-2 lead to open the game and never looked back. Mercy came as close as 16 (52-36) on a layup by Parker with 8:15 left, but the River Hawks scored seven straight points thereafter.