Feb. 4, 2009

Box Score

Junior G Jason Westrol scored 22 points as No. 23 Bentley University defeated UMass Lowell, 70-68, Wednesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball clash at the Dana Athletic Center.

The loss halted a 13-game winning streak – spanning more than two months – for UMass Lowell, which slipped to 17-4 overall and 12-4 in the Conference entering Saturday’s tilt at Merrimack (3:30).

The River Hawks currently share second place with Assumption and Stonehill.

The victory was the 10th straight for Bentley, which takes over first place with a 13-3 clip (19-4 overall).

“That was a great college basketball game,” said UML Head Coach Greg Herenda. “I am really proud of my team and their effort in a building in which very few teams have had success. My hat goes off to Bentley. I’ve got to give them all the credit.”

Junior C Ali Kanaan (Montreal, QUE) registered a season-high 18 points and three assists, hitting 8 of 11 field goal attempts and 2 of 4 from 3-point range. Junior F Victor Colon (Chicago, IL) added 16 points, including 14 in the second half, while shooting 5 for 8 from the field and 4 for 6 from long range.

Freshman G Kyle Caiola (Parma, OH) chipped in 11 points (nine in the second half), three assists and three steals while junior G Kevin Carr (Lancaster, OH) had 10 points.

Senior G Lew Finnegan registered 16 points for the Falcons, converting 5 of 9 field goal attempts (4-7 from 3-point range) and five assists while sophomore G Tom Dowling scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

“Defensively, we held them to 70 points in their own building which was the key to winning this game,” Herenda added. “We just didn’t come up with the big shot or the big play very late in the game.”

UMass Lowell trailed 35-27 at the half and trailed 41-31 in the opening minutes of the second half. The River Hawks, however, found their touch and used a 14-6 run to cut the deficit to 47-45 with 12:20 left to play.

UMass Lowell took a 51-50 edge with 9:19 remaining and neither team led by more than two points until the final seconds.

The River Hawks led 64-66 with 2:42 left to play on a jumper by Carr, but the Falcons countered with a trey by Finnegan for a 67-66 lead.

After Kanaan drew his fifth foul (intentional) with 11 seconds left, sophomore G Mike Quinn hit the second of two free throws for a 68-66 lead. Finnegan was quickly sent to the free throw line following the inbound pass where he meshed a pair for to give Bentley a 70-66 cushion.

Caiola rushed in for a layup to cut the deficit to 70-68 with 3.5 seconds left. Following a time out, the River Hawks gained possession off a turnover on the inbound pass, but a last gasp trey by Carr was blocked by Quinn, however, and time expired.

The Falcons shot .558 for the game (24-43), including .647 in the second half (11-17) while UMass Lowell shot .463 overall and .571 in the second stanza (16-28).