Box Score

Junior G Akeem Williams (Brockton, Mass.) led all scorers with 33 points, but it wasn't enough as UMass Lowell fell to Merrimack, 83-80, in a conference game in North Andover, Mass. on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the loss, UMass Lowell falls to 14-9 overall on the season and 10-9 in conference play. UMass Lowell has now dropped four of its last five games. The River Hawks will host Saint Anselm on Wednesday, February 20 (7:30).
 
The victory brings Merrimack to 10-14 overall and 7-12 in Northeast-10 play. The win snaps a two game losing streak for the Warriors. Merrimack will travel to Saint Michael's on Wednesday, February 20 (7:30).
 
The River Hawks trailed for most of the first half, but cut the Merrimack lead to three when Williams drove to the hoop and was fouled, setting up a three point play.
 
Williams hit his free throw, but Merrimack junior Kevin Regan knocked down a jumper with just over a minute remaining in the half, bringing his team's half-time lead to seven.
 
Regan finished the game with seven points and four rebounds.
 
UMass Lowell came out hot in the second half. Senior F Romeo Diaz (Methuen, Mass.) came up with a big steal and finished on the other end to bring the deficit back to three.
 
On the very next possession, Williams knocked down a three to tie the game, 36-36.
 
Diaz finished the game with 12 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore G Chad Holley (New York, N.Y.) had a nice afternoon as well, scoring 16 points and dishing out nine assists.
 
The game would remain close until the very end. Trailing by one with just a minute left in the game, Merrimack senior F Mike Clifford hit a clutch shot, putting Merrimack back in front, 76-75.
 
Clifford led the Warriors with 28 points and pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds. The Warriors also got a big spark from their freshmen as JT Strickland and Troy Hammel netted 16 and 15 points respectively. Strickland also added five assists.
 
UMass Lowell would once again bring the game even when Williams drove through the lane and finished a layup, tying the game at 77 with just 49 ticks left.
 
Merrimack would respond though, when Strickland matched Williams' effort with a layup of his own.
 
After a missed shot on the ensuing possession, UMass Lowell was forced to foul. Merrimack went four of four from the stripe in the final twenty seconds.
 
“That was an old school rivalry game and Merrimack made the plays down the stretch,” said UMass Lowell head coach, Greg Herenda. “The credit goes to them.”
 
Even so, the River Hawks got the ball back with a chance to tie in the final three seconds of regulation. However, Williams' three-point attempt didn't fall, and Merrimack came away with the victory.
 
“When we had them down they went to their senior and Clifford was terrific,” Herenda added. “Obviously Akeem was great, but when you don't win the game, points and statistics go out the window.”
 
Merrimack had a big advantage in the paint, scoring 54 points to UMass Lowell's 34. The Warriors also out-shot the River Hawks, 51.6% (33-64) to 46.7% (28-60).