Box Score (PDF)

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Freshman Logan Primerano (Peru, Ind.) registered a career-high 17 points to help the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (7-11, 3-2 AE) earn a 93-82 victory at America East Conference opponent Vermont (10-9, 2-2 AE) on Monday.
 
"This is as much of a signature win for our program as we've had so far in our first three years," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "Vermont has traditionally been one of the best teams in our conference and has a great home court advantage. We were down, 52-14, at halftime here just a year ago, so it was great to see us play as well as we did and share the basketball. We played really gritty on defense, and that's something I wasn't sure I'd say about this team anytime soon. This was certainly our best overall effort this year."
 
The decision was UMass Lowell's first ever win against Vermont. Primerano went a personal-best, 10-for-10 from the line in the team's second road win in three days. Six River Hawks scored in double-digits, marking the most 10+ point scorers in a single-game since 2012.  Redshirt sophomore Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.), who totaled 14 points, boasted a game-high nine rebounds, while classmate Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) and freshman Isaac White (Ashland, Ohio) each added 14 points, as well. Junior Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) (12 points) and freshman Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) (10 points) rounded out the double-digit scorers.
 
The Catamounts won the tip and led by as many as three in the opening minutes of play before senior Mark Cornelius (Westford, Mass.) banked in a floater to spark a stretch of 13 unanswered points that put UMass Lowell ahead, 16-6, with 13:46 remaining in the first half.
 
Vermont pulled within eight on two occasions, but Livingston laid in consecutive layups and Jones followed with a fast-break bucket of his own to give the River Hawks their largest lead of the half, 24-10, at 10:08. The teams traded baskets in the next seven minutes, as UMass Lowell maintained at least an 11-point edge until the home squad scored five straight to cut the deficit back to single digits at 37-28 with three minutes left to play in the first.
 
Thomas quickly regained the momentum for the River Hawks, driving all the way to the hoop on the next three possessions. Although Trae Bell-Haynes was able to convert on four free throws in the last minute of the period, the visitors would take a 45-34 advantage into the break.
 
The Catamounts logged the first basket coming out of halftime, but UMass Lowell continued to attack with a 10-2 run that was highlighted by six points from Jones, giving the visitors a 55-38 margin with 16:41 to go in the outing. Vermont retaliated, however, with 11 points in a row, making it just a two-possession game at 55-49 at 13:29.
 
Primerano used a dunk and a long field goal to energize the River Hawks' bench and put his squad in front, 62-53, with 9:44 still to go. Harris knocked down a jumper from beyond the arc to create a 73-61 buffer at 6:03, but UVM answered with a 10 quick points, pulling within a bucket at 73-71. The home team was unable to come any closer, though, as the River Hawks were perfect at the line in the final three minutes, going 14-for-14 to seal the 93-82 victory.   
 
Dre Wills notched a game-high 22 points to pace the Catamounts. Ethan O'Day chipped in with 12 points and a team-best seven boards.
 
Monday's contest marked the fifth meeting between UMass Lowell and Vermont in the sport of men's basketball. The Catamounts still own a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series. The River Hawks will return to action on Thursday, January 21 when they host New Hampshire at the Tsongas Center on ESPN3 beginning at 7 p.m.