Box Score VESTAL, N.Y. – After a back-and-forth affair which saw the lead change hands 14 times the UMass Lowell men's basketball team used a big second half run to win its second consecutive game pulling out a 71-59 win over the Binghamton Bearcats Saturday evening.
 
The River Hawks (3-11, 2-1 America East) went on a 18-2 run midway through the second half to take a 57-41 lead and didn't look back. Senior guard Akeem Williams (Brockton, MA) flirted with a triple-double, scoring season-highs in points (23) and assists (9) while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds to help the team earn its first road win of the season.
 
Williams, eighth in the America East in scoring, also connected on a season-high five 3-point attempts, matching his previous high of three by the intermission.
 
"Its another important first step for us, it's our first road win which is really important," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "I've always wanted to establish our team as a good road team and we did a number of things right tonight to earn a quality conference road victory."
 
Binghamton was held to 38.2% shooting from the field while the River Hawks made 50% of their attempts and shot 10-22 from 3-point range. Five of those triples came during the run that gave the River Hawks all the room they needed.
 
UMass Lowell came into the game second in the conference in defensive 3-point percentage with opponents only connecting on .339 percent of their attempts. Tonight the Bearcats were held to just 4-of-22 (18.2%) from long range.
 
"We played the game at the right pace which is real important to us and handled their zone defense, which is something different from what we're used to and executed but we played really good half court defense and that's what allows you to win quality road games," said Duquette.
 
The River Hawks had a well balanced scoring attack with four players reaching double-figure point totals led by Williams' 23. In just his second game after returning from injury Antonio Bivins (Miami, FL) scored 16 points and snagged four rebounds.
 
"We know what Akeem's capable of and we're learning how valuable Antonio can be to our team and how different he makes us," said Duquette. "We just have to keep getting better, we know that we can play in this league, we have the confidence that we can play in this league and we just have to keep going."
 
Freshman Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) chipped in with 12 points and junior Chad Holley (New York, N.Y.) added 11 points, five rebounds and six assists.
 
Williams started off hot hitting two early triples before taking on a facilitator role finding Bivins for an easy lay-up and then for a powerful dunk in the opening half.
 
Binghamton was led Yosef Yacob who scored 22 points on 9 of 15 shooting. Sophomore Jordan Reed who ranks second in the America East in points and rebounds grabbed a game-high eight rebounds to go with 15 points.
 
Binghamton cut the deficit to 8 before Holley was fouled on a layup. He'd sink the free throw and give the River Hawks some added breathing room pushing the lead to 11 with just over two minutes to go.

The River Hawks will host Albany on Wednesday for a 7 P.M. tilt at the Costello Athletic Center.