Dec. 3, 2008

MANCHESTER, NH - Sophomore Patrick Luptowski scored 21 points as Saint Anselm defeated UMass Lowell, 87-72, Wednesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball clash at the Stoutenborough Gymnasium.

With the loss, UMass Lowell slipped to 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the NE-10 entering Saturday's non-conference clash at Dominican (3:00). The Hawks improved to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the NE-10.

Junior F Victor Colon (Chicago, IL) led UMass Lowell with a season-high 25 points, nine rebounds and three assists while shooting 7 for 12 from 3-point range before drawing his fifth foul with 3:00 to play.

Sophomore G Max Kerman (Watertown, MA) added 14 points and six rebounds while freshman G Kyle Caiola (Parma, OH) chipped in 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Junior G Craig Heatherly (Mishawaka, IN) had 10 points, hitting 3 o f 4 field goal attempts (2 of 3 from long range).

"Victor played as well offensively as possible," said UML Head Coach Greg Herenda. "He was terrific and Max continues to amaze me. He plays as hard as anyone that I have ever coached."

Sophomore F John Tello compiled 16 points and 12 rebounds (seven offensive) for the Hawks, converting 7-12 field goals, while freshman G Oliver Hunter also had 16 points off the bench, hitting all five field goal attempts.

Freshman G Hakeem Williams chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds.

Saint Anselm shot .528 for the game (28-53), including .583 in the second half (14-24) in which it outscored UMass Lowell 50-34. The River Hawks shot .388 for the game (26-67), and struggled to a .333 clip in the second half (13-39).

The Hawks also had a sizeable advantage at the free throw line, outscoring UMass Lowell 23-8. Saint Anselm also outscored the River Hawks off the bench, 34-9.

"We played very hard and executed very well early, but St A's just wore us down," said Herenda. "Our inability to rebound and defend without fouling really cost us tonight."

Saint Anselm led 61-60 with 8:53 left to play, and used a 10-2 run to post a 71-62 cushion with 4:26 remaining behind a pair of treys by Luptowski. The River Hawks cut the lead to six (74-68) following a layup from Caiola and treys by junior G Kevin Carr (Lancaster, OH) and Colon, but could muster no closer.

In the first half, the River Hawks jumped out to a 13-2 lead behind a pair of treys by Heatherly, but the Hawks found their touch and managed to take a 29-27 lead with 4:46 left. Luptowski drained three of four 3-point attempts in the run.

UMass Lowell led at the break, 38-37.