Box Score

Junior G Akeem Williams (Brockton, Mass.) led the River Hawks with 24 points, four steals and two assists, but it was Southern New Hampshire that came away with the, 85-73, victory in a conference game at the Costello Athletic Center on Sunday afternoon.

With the loss, UMass Lowell falls to 13-8 overall on the season and 9-8 in conference play. UMass Lowell will travel to Stonehill on Tuesday, February 12^th (7:30).

Southern New Hampshire improves to 13-8 overall on the year and 9-8 in the Northeast-10. The Penmen host Franklin Pierce on Wednesday, February 13^th (7:30).

UMass Lowell outplayed Southern New Hampshire in the first half and took a, 40-34, lead into the break. Senior F Romeo Diaz (Methuen, Mass.) came up big toward the end of the half, netting five points in the final four and a half minutes on a layup and a three-point play.

 Diaz finished the game with nine points and seven rebounds.

Southern New Hampshire came back to tie the game with 13:57 left to play on a three-pointer by Aleksandar Dobrovic. The sophomore finished with six points, two rebounds and two steals.

The River Hawks would once again claim the lead when sophomore G Chad Holley (New York, N.Y.) was fouled driving to the rim. Holley hit both free throws, giving UMass Lowell a four point advantage with under nine minutes to play.
Holley finished with 14 points along with 3 assists and a steal.

Also active in the scoring for UMass Lowell was junior F Antonio Bivins (Miami, Fla.) with 10 points. Bivins also pulled down five rebounds in the loss.

However, Southern New Hampshire's Rodney Sanders would eventually put the game out of reach. Leading by four with just over five minutes left in the game, Sanders drove strong to the rim for two of his team-high 19 points, giving the Penmen a six point lead.

Also in the mix for Southern New Hampshire was Mike Stys with 15 points, Elijah Bonsignore with 13 points and B.J. Cardarelli with 11 points. Cardarelli also ripped down a game-high 11 rebounds.
“It's like déjà vu all over again,” said UMass Lowell head coach, Greg Herenda. “We play hard and well, get a lead in the second half and just cannot finish. When we need the big stop or big rebound, or the big shot with the lead we are just not coming up with it.”

“Again, the credit goes to Southern New Hampshire. They ran a great offense and made just about every shot in the second half,” he added. “We just need to go back to practice and keep at it. It will turn around.”

Southern New Hampshire outshot UMass Lowell, 45.6% (26-57) to 42.4% (28-66). The Penmen shot 60.0% (15-25) in the second half.

UMass Lowell was able to outscore Southern New Hampshire in the paint, 34-22.