Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.H. – Redshirt sophomore Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) logged a game-high 20 points to pace the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (11-16, 7-7 AE) in an 80-69 loss at America East opponent New Hamphire (16-10, 9-4 AE) on Wednesday evening.
 
"We lost to a very good basketball team tonight, one of the top teams in our league," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "I was a little disappointed with the hole we dug ourselves at the beginning of the game because it's really hard to make up that difference against a team that plays defense as well as New Hampshire does. I thought we competed as well as we could have given the lack of size, so I'm happy about that."
 
Freshmen Keith Hayes II (Little Rock, Ark.) and Isaac White (Ashland, Ohio) joined Thomas in double digits with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Junior Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) led the team on the boards with five rebounds.
 
Freshman Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) and redshirt freshman Josh Gantz (Grove City, Ohio) accounted for the River Hawks' lone buckets in the first six minutes, as the Wildcats jumped out to an early, 25-5 lead. Thomas and White ignited UMass Lowell's offense, though, starting a 12-5 spurt to make the score 30-17 with 9:01 remaining in the first half.
 
UMass Lowell used back-to-back long balls from Livingston and Hayes to cut the difference to single digits, 34-25, at 5:37. UNH answered with a three-pointer of its own and would maintain at least a 10-point edge until Hayes banked in a layup and senior Mark Cornelius (Westford, Mass.) drained a three, pulling the visitors within two possessions at 38-32 with just over two minutes to go in the half. However, the Wildcats registered the last five points to take a 43-32 advantage into the break.
 
The River Hawks controlled the pace of play coming out of the break, scoring seven of the first nine points with the help of a three from Jones, putting the team within six once again, this time at 45-39 with 16:52 left to play.
 
UNH responded with the six straight points to create a 51-39 margin at 15:04. Thomas registered the next two buckets for UMass Lowell and Hayes added a pair of free throws to make the score 55-44 with 10:49 left in the outing. Less than a minute later, Hayes sparked an 8-2 run with five consecutive points, but the home team quickly regained a 14-point buffer at 67-53 with 6:41 to go.
 
The River Hawks continued to battle, though, and outscored the Wildcats, 10-1, during a two-minute stretch, dropping the lead to just six at 74-68 with 50 seconds on the clock. Despite the effort, the home team used six free throws to seal the 80-68 decision.
 
Five Wildcats scored in double figures led by Tanner Leissner and Jacoby Armstrong, who totaled 16 points apiece. Leissner added 13 rebounds for a double-double performance.
 
Wednesday's contest marked the sixth meeting between UMass Lowell and New Hampshire in the sport of men's basketball. The Wildcats now lead the all-time series, 5-1. The River Hawks play their final road game of the 2015-16 season on Saturday, February 20 when they take on Binghamton beginning at 4:30 p.m.