Jan. 26, 2010

 

Box Score

Despite rallying from a 17-point deficit, UMass Lowell (12-7, 9-5 NE-10) was unable to pull out a win in a heartbreaking 72-67 loss to Pace University (9-10, 7-7) on Tuesday evening in Northeast-10 action at home.

Junior guard Max Kerman (Watertown, MA) tied his career high with 13 rebounds, and sophomore Kyle Caiola (Parma, OH) led the squad with 21 points on the night.

Pace enjoyed a 12-point lead entering the break and eventually built the advantage to 17 points (46-29) with 15:40 remaining in the game. Battling back, UMass Lowell chipped away and brought the game within 13 points before going on an 18-4 run to go up by one (67-66) on a Kevin Carr (Lancaster, OH) three with 49 seconds remaining in regulation.

Twenty-three seconds later, it was Pace's Adrian Mills that put the Setters back on top 68-67 and the River Hawks were unable to get score again as the clock wound down.

"We cannot dig ourselves a big hole and expect to come back every night," head coach Greg Herenda said.  "We were one stop away, but Pace made the big shot and the big stop tonight."

The teams' rebounding was nearly even in the game (UMass Lowell 42, Pace 44), but the River Hawks owned the overwhelming 19-8 advantage on the offensive glass, helping them to the 20-7 advantage in second chance points. More than one third of the offensive rebounds were grabbed by Kerman (7), as the River Hawk captain also dished three assists and steals on the night, adding five points in the effort. Behind him was senior Kingsley Onyechi (Lowell, MA), who grabbed eight boards and tallied four points on the night.

Caiola's 21 points, including a trio of threes, were accompanied by three boards, a steal and an assist. Carr finished the night with 12 points, all from behind the arc. He grabbed three steals and added three assists, as well.

The River Hawks forced 20 turnovers by their opponent, only committing eight of their own and also grabbed 12 steals, compared to just three by Pace. They earned 28 points off Pace's turnovers, while the Setters only tallied nine off UMass Lowell turnovers.

UMass Lowell was held to just 29.3% shooting in the game (22-75), compared to Pace's 49.1% (27-55), and the River Hawks were unable to capitalize on their shot advantage. The teams each sank 10 threes in the game and UMass Lowell shot 76.5% from the line (13-17).

The River Hawk bench outscored the Setters' 14-3, led by Scotty Tavares-Taylor's (Boston, MA) seven points, three assists and two steals.  The freshman was a catalyst for some big plays down the stretch.

"Scotty came off the bench and really got us going both offensively and defensively," Herenda said.

Pace was led by Mills' 21 points, while Ryan Woods tallied 20 and added nine boards. Delroy Daley enjoyed a double-double, scoring 12 and grabbing 10 rebounds in the Setters' victory.

The River Hawks will hit the road for a 3:30 p.m. tilt in New Haven, when they take on Southern Connecticut in NE-10 action on Saturday, Jan. 30.