Box Score (PDF)

CANTONSVILLE, Md. – Sophomore Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) had a career day that included a personal-best 32 points to lead the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (6-11, 2-2 AE) to a 95-89, comeback victory in overtime at America East opponent UMBC (5-14, 1-3 AE) on Saturday afternoon.
 
"This was a great win," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "It was a hard-fought, tough game against a good team. UMBC is a lot better than they were a year ago and our guys really battled. I thought it was tough when we didn't win the game in regulation because we had the momentum at the end, but our guys responded the right way."
 
Harris, who scored 28 of his points after halftime, including 14 with four fouls against him, finished with career highs for field goals (8), three-pointers (5) and free throws (11). A total of four River Hawks tallied double-digits in the contest, as redshirt sophomore Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) added 19 points and a game-high five assists. Junior Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) finished with a season-high 15 points, as well as a game-high nine rebounds. Freshman Logan Primerano (Peru, Ind.) rounded out the double-digit scorers with a personal-best 11 points. The River Hawks' bench outscored the Retrievers', 59-11, and the team as a whole shot 54.4 percent (31-57) from the field.
 
UMass Lowell, who trailed by 10 halfway through the second half, faced a seven-point deficit with just five minutes to go. UMass Lowell continued to battle, though, using a 14-1 run, including a three-point play from Primerano, to take control of the momentum and the lead at 79-75 with 1:25 left in regulation. However, Joe Sherburne threw up a last-chance three for UMBC with less than a second on the clock to send the game into overtime.
 
The River Hawks kept their composure heading into the extra period, pulling away 89-83 with the help of a layup and two free throws by Harris. The Retrievers worked to make it a two-point game with just 28 seconds to play, but Harris and Primerano took advantage of their free throws to seal the 95-89 victory.
 
UMBC led 14-9 in the opening minutes of the game. Livingston would spark a 10-1 spurt that put the visitors on top, 19-15, with just over eight minutes remaining in the first. The River Hawks maintained at least a two-point margin until UMBC was able to pull within one, making the score 23-22 at 5:15.
 
Senior DJ Mlachnik (Muskego, Wis.) converted on a free throw opportunity, putting UMass Lowell ahead by a bucket, but the home squad followed with an 11-2 spurt to regain the upper hand, 33-26, with less than two minutes to go in the half.  The River Hawks outscored the Retrievers, 4-2, in the waning minutes, but UMBC would take a 36-30 edge into the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, the River Hawks knotted the score twice more before UMBC gained a 10-point buffer, 60-50, with 10:47 to play.  
 
Jairus Lyles paced the Retrievers with 29 points on the day, while Rodney Elliott followed closely with 24. Cody Joyce registered 11 points, as well, and Will Darley and Sherburne chipped in with 10 points apiece.
 
Saturday's contest marked the fifth meeting ever between UMass Lowell and UMBC in the sport men's basketball, and the second consecutive overtime decision in Cantonsville. The River Hawks extend their lead in the all-time series to an undefeated, 5-0. The squad will stay on the road, but head back north to take on Vermont on Monday, January 18. Tipoff for that contest is slated for 7 p.m.