Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Sophomore Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) posted a team- and season-high 18 points in a 94-81 setback for the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (1-3) at Fort Wayne (2-2) on Saturday evening, as part of the 2016 Indiana Classic.
 
"I don't think we ever got into a rhythm in the first half," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "A number of guys got into foul trouble, which makes it difficult, but we did enough things wrong defensively. That's the story for us and where we need to get better because 94 points is too much. Fort Wayne is a very good basketball team on their home floor. We need to grow from this and get better defensively."
 
Jones was one of four double-digit scorers for the River Hawks on the night. Redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) chipped in with 16 points and four assists, while adding a team-and season-best nine rebounds. Junior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) and senior Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) added 14 and 12 points, respectively, in the outing. Collectively, the River Hawks totaled 12 three-point field goals for the first time since December 20, 2015.
 
The River Hawks showed their strength from beyond the arc early, jumping out to an 11-6 edge with three of their first four buckets of the night coming from long range. Fort Wayne answered with a 9-3 spurt, though, to pull ahead by one, and despite the four quick lead changes that followed, the Mastodons scored six in a row to lead, 24-19, with 10:52 remaining in the first half.
 
A pair of free throws from freshman Rinardo Perry (Washington, D.C.) and a layup from classmate Stefan Borovac (Stoney Creek, Ontario) accounted for the River Hawks' lone points in the next four minutes, as the home squad built a double-digit advantage, 36-23, at 6:23. UMass Lowell then used a three from Livingston and two free throws from Thomas to close the gap back to nine with 3:37 left, but the Mastodons would take their largest lead yet in the waning seconds for a 49-34 difference at the break.
 
The River Hawks took control of the momentum in the opening minutes of the second half, tallying nine of the first 11 points, including a long ball from Harris, to make the score 51-43 with 17:08 still to play. However, Fort Wayne retaliated with a 10-2 stretch to go ahead, 61-45, at 13:58.
 
The teams traded baskets until Jones drove to the hoop for two and freshman Cameron Wolter (Fishers, Ind.) drained a three from the top of the key, cutting the buffer to 13 once more, this time with 7:12 left to play. The visitors continued to battle, coming within 11 points of the lead at 78-89 after another three-point jumper from Harris with less than two minutes to go, but Fort Wayne was able to close out the 94-81 decision.
 
The Mastodons were led by Mo Evans, who notched a game-high 33 points, and Bryson Scott, who totaled 14. As a team, Fort Wayne shot 58.3 percent (35-60) from the floor.
 
Saturday's contest marked the first ever meeting between UMass Lowell and Fort Wayne in the sport of men's basketball. The River Hawks will continue its four-game stretch in the Indiana Classic with two games in Lynchburg, Va. beginning on Monday, November 21 against site host Liberty at 6 p.m.