Box Score

Junior G Antonio Bivins (Miami, Fla.) notched a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds as UMass Lowell defeated No. 23 Stonehill, 72-52, in a Northeast-10 conference men's basketball game at the Costello Athletic Center.
 
The win brings UMass Lowell to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play. The River Hawks are back in action on Saturday, December 1 against Merrimack (4:00).
 
Stonehill falls to 2-2 overall on the season and 1-2 in the Northeast-10. The Skyhawks will host Saint Michael's on December 1 (3:30).
 
Bivins had some help from his teammates as four other River Hawks managed double figures in points. Junior G Akeem Williams (Brockton, Mass.) had 17 points, senior F Matt Welch (Lowell, Mass.) tallied 13 points on 5-10 shooting, sophomore G Chad Holley (New York, N.Y.) racked up 12 points and freshman G DJ Mlachnik (Muskego, Wisc.) managed 11 points on 2-5 shooting from beyond the arc.
 
Senior G Brian Hamor led the Skyhawks with 19 points. Senior G Adam Fazzini also chipped in with 11 points and four rebounds.

"We could not have played harder and better defensively than we did in the first half," said head coach Greg Herenda. "I am really proud of my guys and how focused we came out and executed on both ends."
 
The River Hawks jumped out in front early. Bivins put UMass Lowell up by 12 points when he found some space on the baseline and slammed the ball home. However, it was the UMass Lowell defense that stood out in this one. The River Hawks held Stonehill to just three field goals in the first half, and took a 44-18 lead into the break.

"Antonio was obviously very good and Matt continues to rebound the basketball and is scoring around the basket," Herenda noted. "Chad ran the point and DJ gave our offense a big shot in the arm in the first half. It was a quality win against a quality opponent."
 
Stonehill would cut into the UMass Lowell lead to begin the second half, going on a 6-0 run led by three-point shots by Fazzini and senior G Sam Markle. UMass Lowell would temper the storm, though, as Holley ended the run with a pull up jumper.
 
The River Hawks outrebounded the Skyhawks 45-34, and were able to outscore Stonehill 30-10 in the paint.

UMass Lowell shot 50.0% from the floor (28-56), while Stonehill shot just 27.6% (16-58). The Skyhawks also struggled mightily at the free throw line, shooting just 55.6% (15-27) from the stripe.