Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview

ITHACA, N.Y. – In a game that saw an unprecedented 27 lead changes, redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) matched a career high with 27 points to lead the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (5-9) to a 98-96 overtime victory at Cornell (3-10).
 
"It's been awhile since we've been in a game that's been that back-and-forth and had that many turns in both directions," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "I don't know how we did it at times. I'm looking out there and seeing a lot of young kids. Both our starting forwards fouled out of the game. Then we had the game won in regulation and they hit a tough shot to force overtime. Rarely does that translate into a win for the road team. What a gutsy effort, not by just one guy, but by everybody on the team."
 
Thomas went 11-for-14 from the field, pacing a River Hawk offense that shot 52.9 percent (37-70) on the night. Sophomore Logan Primerano (Peru, Ind.) posted a season-best 22 points, while going 9-for-10 from the foul line. Classmate Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) added 17 points of his own, and senior Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) and junior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
 
Following the 18th tie of the contest in the final seconds of regulation, Harris banked in the go-ahead shot with four seconds on the clock, but it would not end there, as the Big Red scored on a fast-break going the other way to beat the buzzer and force overtime. Livingston gave the River Hawks the momentum with the first five points of the extra period and although Cornell cut the difference to just two with two minutes to go, Primerano converted on a pair of important free throws to secure the decision.
 
UMass Lowell and Cornell traded buckets right from the start, forcing three stalemates before the Big Red hit back-to-back threes to pull in front, 14-10. The River Hawks responded quickly, though, using four points from Thomas as part of a 9-2 spurt that created a 19-16 edge for the visitors with 11:37 still to play in the first half.
 
The River Hawks were able to hold onto a one-possession margin until the home squad put together an 11-2 stretch to take the largest lead of the period, 34-28, at 4:57. However, the teams remained evenly-match, with a three from redshirt-sophomore Jordan Shea (Madison, Wis.) and an off-balance layup from Primerano knotting the score twice more in the waning minutes. However, the Big Red regained a slight upper hand, and despite the last three points of the half coming from Thomas, the home squad took a 41-39 buffer into the break.
 
Jones connected from downtown coming out of halftime to turn the board in favor of UMass Lowell once again. Both sides continued to battle, boasting nine lead changes in the next six minutes before Thomas netted two straight baskets to give the River Hawks the 60-57 advantage at 12:43 in the second.
 
Neither team led by more than two with five tied scores ahead of another three from Jones that made the difference 77-73 with 4:11 to play. The lead was short-lived, as Cornell fought back at the end of regulation.
 
Thursday's contest marked the third meeting between UMass Lowell and Cornell in the sport of men's basketball. UMass Lowell now owns a 2-1 lead in the all-time series. The River Hawks kick off their America East Conference slate after the new year when UAlbany comes to Lowell on Thursday, January 5. That contest is slated to begin at 7 p.m.