Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview

BANGOR, Maine – Senior Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) posted his first double-double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds to pace the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (7-10, 2-1 AE) in a 73-71 heartbreaker at Maine (5-13, 1-2 AE) that was decided in the final seconds at the Cross Insurance Center on Wednesday evening.
 
Although the River Hawks led for the first 18 minutes of the second half, a late, 14-3 surge by the Black Bears gave the home team the upper hand, 68-67. Following three lead changes, UMass Lowell held a 71-70 advantage with just 13 seconds remaining, but Wes Myers would complete a three-point play on his team's final possession inside of four ticks on the clock to steal the come-from-behind decision and snap a three-game win streak for the River Hawks.
 
"Obviously, credit to Wes Myers, he hit some big plays," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "Maine didn't give up at all. We were up by 10 a couple of times and they fought back, which I expect them to do. We've got to learn to play better when we have a lead. We've given up too many easy baskets in the last two games, letting teams get back into it, and then you leave it up to chance. If it ends five seconds earlier, we win."
 
Livingston's 10 rebounds marked a new season-high for the forward. Redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.), who surpassed 500 career boards in the outing, also turned in a double-double performance with 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
The River Hawks built an early margin thanks to a pair of threes from Livingston, but Maine used a quick, 11-2 spurt to pull in front, 15-10, with 13:46 remaining in the first half. Livingston then drew a foul on his way to the hoop and would convert at the line to make it a three-point play, cutting the difference to two, before the Black Bears tallied six in a row to take a 21-13 edge at 11:31.
 
UMass Lowell erased the deficit with a stretch of eight straight points that was capped off by a jumper from beyond the arc from sophomore Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.), knotting the score at 21-21 with 7:18 left to go in the first. The teams traded baskets and were tied on four more occasions until sophomore Logan Primerano (Peru, Ind.) knocked down a long ball just ahead of the buzzer to send the visitors into the break with a 34-32 advantage.
 
Despite the Black Bears netting the first three points coming out of halftime, the River Hawks tallied the next eight, including a one-handed slam and a three from freshman Rinardo Perry (Washington, D.C.), to pull away, 42-35. Maine's Ryan Bernstein made it a one-possession game with a three from the top of the key, however UMass Lowell fought to take control of the momentum with an 11-2 run, giving the squad its first double-digit buffer of the night at 55-44 with 9:41 still to go. The River Hawks maintained at least a five-point difference until that late surge put the home squad on top with just two minutes left.
 
Wednesday's contest marked the ninth meeting between UMass Lowell and Maine in the sport of men's basketball. The River Hawks, who still lead the all-time series against the Black Bears, 6-3, will return to action on Saturday, January 14 when they host Hartford at 2 p.m.