Dec. 3, 2011

Box Score | Highlights/Herenda Interview

Sophomore G Akeem Williams (Brockport, Mass.) scored 17 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished five assists as UMass Lowell defeated Merrimack College, 68-66, Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball clash at the Tsongas Center.

The win halted a three-game slide for the River Hawks, who improved to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the NE-10 entering Wednesday's home game against Saint Anselm (7:30).

Merrimack slipped to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the Conference and visits Saint Michael's Tuesday at 7:30.

Williams led four River Hawks in double figures as senior G Dipanjot Singh (Evanston, Ill.) added 13 points and five rebounds, hitting 3 of 6 attempts from 3-point range. Sophomore G Scotty Tavares-Taylor (Roxbury, Mass.) chipped in 10 points, a career-high eight rebounds and five assists while junior F Matt Welch (Lowell, Mass.) also had 10 points.

Senior G Wayne Mack led all scorers with 30 points (23 in the first half), eight rebounds and six steals while converting 15 of 15 free throws. Senior G Roland Davis added 10 points and four assists while senior F Aaron Strothers chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.

Led by Williams, UMass Lowell's bench outscored that of Merrimack's 30-8 as sophomore forwards Antonio Bivins (Miami, Fla.) and Darrell Ward (White Plains, N.Y.) combined for 13 points and 12 rebounds.

"Our defense and our rebounding won us that game," said head coach Greg Herenda. "My guys gutted that one out and I am proud of our perseverance.

"To win that game in our own arena against a rival like Merrimack is special," he added. "Our defense is back. We have to find our offense and we'll be fine."

UMass Lowell also outscored Merrimack from 3-point range, 24-12, and kept the Warriors from converting a trey in the second half (0-6).

The advantages buffered Merrimack's 28-16 lead at the free throw line.

With 7:10 left to play, Merrimack nursed a 57-53 lead but UMass Lowell outscored the Warriors, 14-4 over the next four minutes to post a 67-61 cushion with 3:39 remaining. Welch led the spurt with a pair of 3-point shots while Bivins added six points.

Merrimack refused to bow out, however, and cut the lead to 68-66 behind a jumper by Mack and a free throw by senior G Wilfredo Pagan with 16 seconds left. The Warriors nearly forced overtime in the final seconds when freshman G Alex Morsey stole an inbound, but his layup was off the mark.