Box Score

Junior G Akeem Williams (Brockton, Mass.) racked up 13 points and four rebounds for UMass Lowell as the River Hawks defeated conference rival Bentley University, 63-50, Wednesday night at the Costello Athletic Center.
 
The game was the regular season opener for the River Hawks. UMass Lowell next plays on Saturday, Nov. 17 when it travels to Holy Family for a non-conference game at 5:30 p.m.
 
Junior F Antonio Bivins (Miami, Fla.) added 12 points and seven rebounds while senior F Matt Welch (Lowell, Mass.) chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds.
 
Junior G Jasper Grassa led the Falcons with 13 points and six rebounds while freshman F Tyler MacFarland chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.
 
UMass Lowell closed the half with a 13-3 run, led by six points from Welch and three by Williams which gave UMass Lowell a 35-23 cushion at the break.
 
The run continued in the second half as UMass Lowell outscored the Falcons 10-5 to open the second half, behind a pair of jumpers by freshman C James McDonnell (Swansea, Mass.), who chipped in eight points and seven rebounds on 4-5 field goal shooting.
 
Bentley chipped away and cut the deficit to 49-38 with 8:39 left to play, but could get no closer.

"I am very proud of our 40 minute performance," said UMass Lowell head coach, Greg Herenda. "Our defensive intensity was amazing."

"To hold a very skilled team to under 30 percent shooting for an entire game speaks volumes," he added. "On top of that we really rebounded the basketball on both ends of the floor with great toughness."

UMass Lowell outrebounded Bentley with a 52-42 advantage, including 18-8 on the offensive glass. The River Hawks also outscored the Falcons in the paint, 36-14.

UMass Lowell committed only 10 turnovers while Bentley gave up the ball 18 times.