Box Score

NEW YORK, N.Y.  (December 9, 2013)– The UMass Lowell men's basketball team welcomes a nine day break following a 78-39 loss to Columbia at Francis Levien Gymnasium Monday night.
 
The losses to NJIT and Columbia this weekend dropped the River Hawks to 1-9 overall as the team looks ahead to a short break for finals followed by a stretch which features four of the next five games in Lowell.

Columbia improved to 4-1 at home and a 6-5 overall record.

"It was a tough loss, and I thought they were a very, very good team and as good a defensive team as we've played all year and not one of our better overall games," said Head Coach Pat Duquette.
 
Senior center Parris Massey (Boston, MA) set a career-high by halftime, eclipsing his previous high of five points from last season by finishing with eight points and also added four rebounds.
 
In his homecoming, senior forward Kerry Weldon (New York, N.Y.) won the opening tip for the fourth consecutive game. Including tonight, two of those victorious tips have led directly to scores by the River Hawks as Akeem Williams (Brockton, MA) scored moments after the jump. Weldon, a former St. Agnes H.S. alum finished with three points and four rebounds playing in front of his friends and family.
 
The game also marked the homecoming for junior guard Chad Holley (New York, N.Y.) who totaled four points, two rebounds and an assist.
 
Columbia used a strong opening half to create separation, outscoring the River Hawks 33 to 12 over the final 15:20 to take a 38-18 lead at the half.
 
UMass Lowell found success in the paint late in the first half as Williams and Mark Cornelius (Westford, MA) each found Massey inside for easy layups. Massey was the team leader in points at the intermission, which included a tough turnaround hook shot four seconds before the halftime buzzer sounded.
 
The Lions held a sizeable advantage at the free throw line getting there 16 times in the first half -20 of 23 overall- converting 14 of those attempts. The River Hawks got to the line 15 times during the game, netting six of those attempts.
 
The River Hawks took better care of the ball than the Lions, forcing 18 turnovers and converting those into 17 points.
 
Both teams came into the game off a loss with UMass Lowell having lost 55-44 to NJIT Saturday while Columbia was coming off a 57-52 loss to Bucknell.

"This isn't going to be an easy transition and we know that and this was one of the more difficult games for us," said Duquette. "We have to put it behind us and we have to stay together and stay focused and try to win some of the upcoming games which are at home."
 
As mentioned, the River Hawks will have nine days off before the next game that will open America East conference play against Vermont on December 18 at 7 P.M.