Feb. 14, 2009

Box Score

 

Freshman G Kyle Caiola (Parma, OH) compiled 19 points, six rebounds and five assists as UMass Lowell defeated Assumption, 65-53, Saturday in a Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball tilt at the Laska Gymnasium.

The win was UMass Lowell's third straight and 16th in its last 17 games as it improved to 20-4 overall and 15-4 in the NE-10 with three games remaining in the regular season.

The victory also secured UMass Lowell's seventh 20-win season in the last 10 years and gave it a two-game lead over Assumption (16-8, 13-6 NE-10) for second place in the NE-10.

"To win our 20th game, on the road against a program like Assumption, who hasn't lost there, is very, very rewarding," said UML Head Coach Greg Herenda. "I am proud of our defensive effort and our second half offense was spectacular as well."

The River Hawks visit American International Wednesday at 7:30 and cap the season Saturday at home against New Haven (4:00) and Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Southern New Hampshire.

Caiola converted 7 of 12 field goals, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range, while junior G Kevin Carr (Lancaster, OH) added 18 points, hitting 4 of 10 3-point attempts and all six free throws. Junior Craig Heatherly (Mishawaka, IN) chipped in eight points, six rebounds and two assists.

Postgraduate G Greg Twomey and sophomore F Savoy Fraine each scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead Assumption. Twomey converted 4 of 5 field goals and dished five assists while Fraine shot 5 for 10. Senior G Mitch Bajema chipped in 11 points.

The River Hawks thrived from long range, converting 12 of 24 attempts, led by Carr, Caiola and Heatherly (2 for 3), while Assumption struggled to a 5 for 20 clip.

UMass Lowell led 36-31 with 13:52 left in the second half and used a 13-2 run to post a 49-33 cushion with 7:07 left to play. Sophomore G Max Kerman (Watertown, MA) led the spurt with five points.

Assumption cut the lead to six (51-45) on a trey by Bajema, but UMass Lowell scored seven straight points - a trey by Carr, layup by Heatherly and a free throw by Kerman - to post a 58-45 cushion with 1:58 left to play. UMass Lowell never let the Greyhounds within 11 points the remainder of the game.

"Kyle and Kevin together opened up our offense," Herenda added. "We also got great contributions from Craig Heatherly and Max Kerman. This was probably one of our best wins of the entire season, and it just happened to be our 20th."

The River Hawks led at the break, 28-23.