Box Score

Junior G Akeem Williams (Brockton, Mass.) compiled 32 points and three assists as UMass Lowell withstood a late surge to defeat the University of the District of Columbia, 91-90, Sunday afternoon in a non-conference men's basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the win, UMass Lowell improved to 7-2 overall and visits Felician College Wednesday at 7:00. UDC suffered its eighth straight loss – four of which to Division I opponents – and slipped to 1-9 overall.

Williams converted 12 of 14 field goals (2 of 3 from 3-point range) and 6 of 7 free throws, including a key pair with 10 seconds left. Senior F Romeo Diaz (Methuen, Mass.) came off the bench to score a season-high 17 points and grab five rebounds while shooting 5-6 from the field and 5-7 from the line.

Junior F Antonio Bivins (Miami, Fla.) added 16 points and eight rebounds while freshman F Kennedy Chukwuocha (Willingboro, N.J.) chipped in 10 points (3-6 field goals).

"A win is a win and UDC is a very talented team that would not go away today," said head coach Greg Herenda. "Obviously Akeem was immense, but Romeo was the glue to our team today."

Junior G Quasim Jones led UDC with 24 points and seven rebounds as he converted 7-14 field goals and 9-11 free throws while junior G Michael Terry added 21 points (8-15 field goals) and five rebounds. D'Angelo Johnson 17 points (7-11 field goals) and senior G Keith Brooks chipped in 13 points.

UMass Lowell shot .556 for the game (30-54), including .654 in the first half (17-26) in which it built a 51-36 cushion at the break. Led by Diaz, the River Hawks also outscored the UDC reserves 30-10.

The advantages buffered UDC's 19-10 edge on points off turnovers and second chance points (18-12), the latter the result of a 14-11 edge on the offensive glass.

UMass Lowell led 60-39 shortly into the second half, but UDC came alive with a 24-9 run to trim the deficit to 69-63 with 8:25 left to play. Senior G Keith Brooks and sophomore F Florent Pontens ignited the run with five points apiece.

The Firebirds remained within striking distance and cut the lead to 86-84 on the first of two free throws by Jones. Senior G Greg DeSantis (Trumbull, Conn.), who chipped in seven points and four assists in 22 minutes, converted three free throws to give UMass Lowell an 89-86 lead, but Johnson meshed a layup to bring UDC within one, 89-88.

UDC fouled shortly after the inbound, and on two straight occasions, Chukwuocha and Williams grabbed the offensive rebounds off missed free throws to keep possession.

Williams calmly meshed two free throws with 10 seconds left. Following a missed 3-point attempt by UDC guard Ralph Watts, Johnson grabbed the offensive rebound and dropped in a layup at the horn.

"To end 2012 at 7-2 is a good place to be, but we need to keep getting better," Herenda noted.