Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The UMass Lowell men's basketball team's comeback fell just short to Hartford at Costello Athletic Center Wednesday night as the team lost 75-68. The River Hawks cut the Hartford lead to three points twice in the final minute but couldn't draw any closer as the Hawks pulled out the win with free throws down the stretch.  

Sophomore DJ Mlachnik got the River Hawks (8-18, 6-8 America East) started by scoring the teams first seven points and put UMass Lowell ahead 7-3. Mlachnik finished the contest with 11 points on 5-10 shooting from the field while draining a three along the way.

Hartford (14-14, 8-5 America East), who shot the lights out of the gym when the teams met in January, went on an 11-3 run in the final 2:27 of the first half to take a 34-25 lead into the break.

River Hawks came out of the intermission pounding the offensive glass early, grabbing five in the opening five minutes, resulting in four free throw attempts and 10 second chance points. UMass Lowell's efforts were part of a 10-3 to begin the half.
 
UMass Lowell totaled 11 offensive rebounds in the game and spun them into 17 second chance points and were instrumental in the team's 28 points in the paint.

Senior Akeem Williams, freshly minted off becoming the fifth player in program history to surpass the 2,000 point mark during in his career, scored 18 points to spearhead the River Hawks attack. Williams rounded out his evening with a trio of 3-pointers, six assists, and two steals.

Massey who tied his career-high of four blocks on Saturday against Stony Brook continued his strong defensive effort swatting away four shots by the Hawks. The senior picked up two blocks on back to back possessions.
 
Sophomore Mark Cornelius continued to string together his strong play of late, finishing with his third double-digit scoring performance of the month with 10 points and added five rebounds.

The teams combined to make 18 3-pointers with each making nine. Hartford shot 9-of-19 (47.4%) while UMass Lowell went 9-of-24 (37.5%).
 
Junior Chad Holley returned from a two game absence accruing five points and five rebounds in 26 minutes.
 
The Hawks had four finish in double figure scoring totals, led by America East conference player of the week Mark Nwakamma who scored 16.

The River Hawks will play their final game on the road Saturday when they travel to New Hampshire for a 3:30 tip-off and close out their maiden season in Division I and America East.