Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) logged a team-best 21 points and eight rebounds, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (2-8) was handed a 91-82 loss at Sacred Heart (4-5) on Tuesday evening.
 
"Sacred Heart had very good guards and they were very good off the dribble," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "We had a hard time containing them and keeping them in front. We've got to get better defensively. That's under our control, so that's the only thing we're going to focus on right now. We've got 12 days between now and our next game, so we'll have a bunch of good practices. Things just aren't clicking right now for us, so we need to practice, get better, and revisit who we are and our fundamentals."
 
The performance marked the third 20-point game of the season for Thomas. He added five assists and two steals on the night, as well. Joining him in double figures were senior Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) and sophomore Isaac White (Ashland, Ohio), who totaled 14 and 10 points, respectively. As a team, UMass Lowell continued to show its strength from the foul line, going a perfect, 11-for-11 on free throws in the second half en route to an 87.5 percent clip (14-16) for the contest.  
 
The River Hawks got on the board first courtesy of a layup from freshman Stefan Borovac (Stoney Creek, Ontario), but the Pioneers pulled in front, 10-2, in the early minutes of play. The visitors worked to erase the gap, though, as White tallied back-to-back buckets to spark a 14-4 run that gave his squad the 16-14 advantage with 12:42 remaining in the first half.
 
Sacred Heart followed three quick lead changes with nine straight points, taking a 26-19 lead at 6:40. A layup from Thomas and a free throw from freshman Cameron Wolter (Fishers, Ind.) made it a two-possession game, although the home team would create a double-digit difference at 34-22 with less than four minutes to play in the half. Junior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) capped off a 7-2 spurt for the River Hawks with a three from the far corner, making it a seven-point margin, but SHU scored the last four points before the break to take 42-31 edge into the locker room.
 
UMass Lowell notched the first two baskets coming out of halftime, including a three from White from the top of the key, putting the visitors within six. The River Hawks were down by just six on two more occasions until being outscored, 13-4, by the Pioneers to create a 61-46 deficit with 12:53 left in the outing.
 
SHU led by as many as 18 before freshman Rinardo Perry (Washington, D.C.) and redshirt-sophomore Jordan Shea (Madison, Wis.) combined for 10 points to lead a 14-4 charge that cut the buffer back to single digits, 70-62, at 8:38. However, UMass Lowell was unable to come any closer in the final minutes of play, as the home team built as much as a 15-point margin once again and held on for the 91-82 outcome.
 
Quincy McKnight paced the Pioneers with 34 points and nine rebounds. Charles Tucker added 13 points and teammate Joseph Lopez chipped in with 11.
 
Tuesday's contest marked the 42nd meeting between UMass Lowell and Sacred Heart in the sport of men's basketball. The Pioneers still lead the all-time series, 23-18. The River Hawks will enjoy their longest break of the year before returning to action on Sunday, December 18 when they host Central Connecticut State in a 1 p.m. tilt at Costello Athletic Center.