Box Score (PDF) | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – Freshman Logan Primerano (Peru, Ind.) set a new career high with 29 points, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (11-15, 7-6 AE) defeated America East opponent UMBC (6-21, 2-10 AE) on Sunday afternoon at Costello Athletic Center.
 
With the decision, the River Hawks have won three in a row, marking the team's longest win streak of the season. It also matches the program's most consecutive wins in league play since joining the America East in 2013-14.
 
"I'm excited that we made enough huge offensive plays down the stretch to win again," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "This is our third game in a row putting up a lot of points and really playing well offensively. It's fun to watch our guys play with no fear. They're under control, but they're aggressive and they're playing the right way."
 
Primerano went a personal-best, 16-for-17 from the line in the contest. Redshirt sophomore Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) added 23 points on the day, giving him three consecutive games with 20+ points for the first time in his career. Freshman Isaac White (Ashland, Ohio) finished with 15 points to round out the double-digit scorers, while senior Mark Cornelius (Westford, Mass.) totaled a team-high eight rebounds.  
 
The River Hawks won the opening tip, but UMBC built an early, 6-2 advantage. Thomas floated in a layup and White drained a three from the top of the key to give the home squad its first lead in the game at 7-6 with 17:03 remaining in the first half. The teams traded baskets in the next four minutes with three lead changes until UMass Lowell scored seven unanswered points, including five from Thomas, to pull ahead, 18-14, at 11:45. The lead was short-lived, though, as the Retrievers responded with seven points of their own, reclaiming a slight, 21-18 edge with 9:15 to go in the first.
 
The evenly-matched action continued and the squads were tied twice before an 8-2 UMBC spurt put the visitors on top, 29-25, at 4:45. Cornelius and sophomore Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) tallied back-to-back buckets for the River Hawks, and White added a pair of free throws, knotting the score at 31-31 with 3:30 to play in the half. UMass Lowell then outscored UMBC, 9-7, in the waning minutes of period to take a 40-38 lead into the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, White hit a pair of threes to make it a two-possession game at 46-40. The Retrievers were able to erase the difference with an 11-4 run and pull back in front, 51-50, with 13:31 still to play in the contest. However, redshirt freshman Dontavious Smith (Cullen, La.) Smith banked in a jumper to spark seven points in a row for UMass Lowell, giving the home team a 57-51 buffer at 11:44.
 
Harris and redshirt freshman Josh Gantz (Grove City, Ohio) each scored from down low to give the River Hawks their largest margin at 67-58 with 7:47 to go. The team led by nine once more, but the visitors retaliated with 10 points to regain the lead, 70-69, at 5:31.
 
Primerano completed a three-point play and Harris sunk a long ball, putting UMass Lowell back in control at 81-79 with just 2:31 left. White gave his team the breathing room it needed on a jumper form beyond the arc, and despite a last-ditch three from UMBC, Primerano and Gantz helped seal the outcome at the line, securing the 96-92 decision.
 
Will Darley paced four double-digit scorers for UMBC with a game-high 31 points. Elliott Rodney chipped in with 20 points, as well.
 
Sunday's contest marked the sixth meeting ever between UMass Lowell and UMBC in the sport of men's basketball. The River Hawks remain undefeated in the all-time series against UMBC. Up next, UMass Lowell will make the short trip to visit New Hampshire for a 7 p.m. matchup on Wednesday, February 17.