Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – Redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) registered an impressive triple-double performance to lead the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (8-10, 3-1 AE) to a 71-55 victory against Hartford (5-13, 0-3 AE) on Saturday afternoon at Costello Athletic Center.
 
Despite trailing by one at halftime, the River Hawks outscored their opponents, 41-24, in the second to pull away for the win. As a team, UMass Lowell set a new season high for rebounds with 53.
 
"Today was a great win for our program," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "First of all, I thought it was the first time we had a lead late in the game where we really played well with a lead. We've struggled a little bit with that as a team. We also were able to win without shooting the ball well. We haven't shown that yet this year and we know we're going to have to do that to be a good team. We only shot 3-for-17 from the three-point line, but we did enough other good things defensively to win the basketball game."
 
Thomas set a new career high with 10 assists, while adding 19 points and 19 rebounds to tally the first triple-double of the modern era for UMass Lowell, and the first on record in program history since Hank Brown did so for Lowell Tech in 1967.
 
Three other River Hawks also scored in double figures with senior Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) totaling 17 points, followed by sophomores Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) and Logan Primerano (Peru, Ind.), who chipped in with 14 and 10, respectively.
 
Although the teams alternated baskets for four lead changes in the opening minutes, Hartford used seven consecutive points to take an early, 17-10 advantage. Primerano ended the scoreless stretch for the River Hawks with a pull-up jumper and Thomas would follow with a three-point play to make it a two-possession game, 19-15, with less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
 
The visitors maintained at least a four-point margin until junior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) drained a long ball from the far corner to spark a quick, 7-3 spurt for the River Hawks and pull the team within three, 29-26, at 2:13 in the period. Freshman Cameron Wolter (Fisher, Ind.) and Jones then combined to go 4-for-4 from the line in the final minute to close the gap to just one, 31-30, at the break.
 
UMass Lowell was aggressive coming out of halftime, as Livingston got things started in the second with a deep three from the wing to help the squad work to extend its run to 14 straight points and gain the upper hand, 40-31, with 17:26 still to play.
 
A layup from Livingston and a triple from Jones gave the River Hawks their first double-digit lead of the afternoon at 45-35 with less than 13 minutes to go. Hartford cut the deficit to seven on two occasions before back-to-back buckets made it a four-point game, 54-50, at 5:15. UMass Lowell responded, though, putting together an 11-2 stretch that included six from Primerano to take a 65-52 lead with just over two minutes left. The River Hawks finished the game with six of the last seven points, as well, to seal the 71-55 decision.
 
Jalen Ross paced Hartford with 19 points, while Jason Dunne and John Carroll each totaled five rebounds.
 
Saturday's contest marked the 12th meeting ever between UMass Lowell and Hartford in the sport of men's basketball. The Hawks still hold a 7-5 edge in the all-time series. The River Hawks will return to action in their second straight home game on Monday, January 16 when they host Stony Brook at 2 p.m.