Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Despite holding the lead for over 22 minutes, including within the last four minutes of a very closely-contested battle, the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (1-4) fell, 84-77, at Liberty (2-2) on Monday evening.
 
"Looking back, a lot of the shots Liberty hit were timely and deep," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "They're a good team and they were playing on their home floor, so you have to be really good to beat them. But, I thought we did a lot of good things. We shared the ball on offense, we spaced the floor, we shot the ball with confidence and I thought we played better defense than we have, so I was really happy with that."
 
Junior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) posted a team- and season-high 19 points for the River Hawks with four threes and a perfect 100 percent clip (7-7) from the foul line. He was one of five double-digit scorers for the squad, marking the most in a single game so far this season. Senior Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) registered 13 points in the contest, while sophomore Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) chipped in with 12, and redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) and freshman Cameron Wolter (Fishers, Ind.) each totaled 11. Jones added a personal-best five assists on the night, as well.
 
The River Hawks won the opening tip and scored first for the first time on the young season thanks to a jumper from Livingston, but the Flames worked to build a two-possession lead in the opening minutes. Wolter and Harris provided a spark off the bench for UMass Lowell, using back-to-back buckets to start a 10-3 run that put their squad on top, 18-14, with 9:21 remaining in the first half.
 
The teams battled for control in the next several minutes, knotting the score twice, including at 26-26 when sophomore Isaac White (Ashland, Ohio) knocked down a deep three with less than four minutes to play in the first. With White's long ball, the River Hawks outscored the Flames, 13-6, to close out the period and head into the break on top, 36-32.
 
Coming out of halftime, Jones tallied the River Hawks' first four points, but Liberty was quick to force another stalemate, this time at 40-40. The home squad broke the tie, but consecutive threes from Harris and Jones regained the upper hand for UMass Lowell at 46-42 with 16:16 still to play.
 
The visitors led by as many as six on two occasions with the help of layups from Wolter, although the Flames responded with a 14-4 spurt to take a 64-60 advantage at 8:59. UMass Lowell continued to battle, though, using a long range jumper and four straight free throws from Harris to pull back in front, 71-70, with 3:55 left to go. However, the next seven points went to the home team, changing the momentum one last time, as Liberty came from behind to pull out a late, 84-77 victory.
 
The Flames had four double-digit scorers on the night, led by Ryan Kemrite, who posted a game-high 21 points. Caleb Homesley and John Dawson, who logged seven rebounds apiece, tallied 19 and 15 points, respectively.
 
Monday's contest marked the first meeting ever between UMass Lowell and Liberty in the sport of men's basketball. The River Hawks will wrap up their four-game road swing tomorrow, Tuesday, November 22, when they close out the 2016 Indiana Classic with a neutral-site contest against Mississippi Valley State hosted by Liberty at 6 p.m.