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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Redshirt-sophomore Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) scored a team-high 21 points, including the game-winner in the final seconds, to lift the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (8-14, 4-5 AE) to an 85-83 victory at America East foe Hartford (7-17, 2-7 AE) on Wednesday evening.
 
Although the game was tied five times in the final five minutes of play, Thomas drove to the hoop and banked in an off-balance shot with just two seconds on the clock to secure the decision in exciting fashion.  
 
"Jahad made two really good plays for us down the stretch," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "This was a fun game to watch. Every time I thought Hartford got the momentum, our guys responded well. We had a really good second half. Hartford is a hard team to play against, but we pulled it out."
 
Thomas was joined by three other River Hawks in double digits on the night. Senior Mark Cornelius (Westford, Mass.) recorded 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds en route to his first double-double. Freshmen Isaac White (Ashland, White) and Keith Hayes II added 13 and 12 points, respectively, as well. As a whole, UMass Lowell shot 52.5 percent (31-59) from the field, marking the ninth time this season the team has shot at least 50 percent.
 
The River Hawks scored the first points of the game on a layup from Cornelius, and used a pair of threes from White and classmate Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) to build an early, 10-4 advantage. Hartford was able to make it a two-possession game, but the visitors responded with eight consecutive points, including five from White, making the score 18-6 with 12:26 remaining in the first.
 
Hartford pulled within nine on two occasions before redshirt-freshman Dontavious Smith (Cullen, La.) sparked an 8-2 spurt to give the River Hawks their largest lead of the half, 28-13, at 8:05. The home squad quickly answered, though, putting together a 13-2 run with the help of nine free throws during the stretch, cutting the difference to just four at 30-26 with 4:20 left in the first. However, Thomas would score from down low and redshirt freshman Josh Gantz (Grove City, Ohio) drained a long ball to help the visitors take a 37-30 lead into the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, the River Hawks outscored Hartford, 12-4, to regain a double-digit margin at 49-34 with 16 minutes still to play. The home squad battled back with nine of the next 11 points, and although UMass Lowell got a three from the corner by Jones, Hartford would make it just a two-point game at 56-54 at 11:55.
 
Thomas completed a three-point play to give the River Hawks some breathing room at 61-56, but Hartford knotted the score twice before taking its first lead of the night, 65-63, with 8:55 to go. Following four quick lead changes, UMass Lowell tied the score, 70-70, at 5:10 leading to the closely-contested final minutes of play.
 
The teams combined for 54 personal fouls in the outing. Pancake Thomas paced Hartford with 37 points, while Jalen Ross chipped in with 12.
 
Wednesday's contest marked the 11th meeting ever between UMass Lowell and Hartford in the sport of men's basketball. The Hawks maintain a 7-4 edge in the all-time series. The River Hawks take on Stony Brook next, welcoming the Seawolves to Costello Athletic Center on Saturday, Feb. 6 for a 2 p.m. tilt.