Box Score
Box Score (PDF) | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. - Senior Chad Holley (New York, N.Y.) and freshman Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) recorded 12 points apiece to pace the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (8-8, 2-1) in a 64-51 setback against the University of Albany (8-7, 3-0) on Saturday afternoon in Lowell.
 
"We played a very good basketball team today," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "The season is still early, but from what I've seen, I think they are going to be one of the better teams in the America East. They are big and strong, and they have experience. We would have had to play really well to win. Our defense played pretty good, but we struggled to score again and we didn't do well enough to win tonight."
 
Redshirt-freshman Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) rounded out the double-digit scorers for the River Hawks with 10 points, while Harris and redshirt-senior Kerry Weldon (New York, N.Y.) logged three rebounds apiece.
 
UMass Lowell won the opening tip and got on the board with a bucket by Weldon, although the Great Danes would jump out to an early lead. The River Hawks knotted the score for the first time at 11-11 on a three from Harris with 11:43 remaining in the first half.
 
UAlbany was quick to retaliate with five straight points, and despite another tied score at 16-16, the visitors then used a 17-2 spurt to pull away, 33-18, at 1:49.
 
Holley snagged a steal and drew a foul on the fast-break before converting on a pair of free throws to end the five-minute scoring drought for UMass Lowell. The senior captain added two more points from the line in the final seconds of the period, but the Great Danes would take a 33-22 advantage into the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, UAlbany hit back-to-back threes before Thomas pulled up for a jumper, sparking a 14-4 River Hawk run and cutting the difference to nine at 43-34 with 13:46 left to play.
 
The Great Danes answered, however, and extended their margin back to double-digits at 50-36 with 12 minutes to go. UMass Lowell pulled within nine once again at 52-43 on another long ball from Harris with 6:18 remaining, but the team was unable to come any closer, as UAlbany went on to secure the 64-51 decision.
 
Evan Singletary led all scorers with 21 points for the Great Danes. Peter Hooley added 14 points, while Sam Rowley logged 11 points and a team-best six rebounds. As a whole, UAlbany shot 44.7% (17-38) from the field and 42.1% (8-19) from three-point territory.
 
Saturday's contest marked the 12th meeting ever between UMass Lowell and UAlbany in the sport of men's basketball. The River Hawks still lead the all-time series, 7-5. UMass Lowell returns to action on Tuesday, January 13 when the squad travels to Maine. Tipoff for that contest is slated for 7 p.m.