Box Score (PDF)

LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) totaled a season-best 23 points to pace five double-digit scorers for the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (1-1) in a 102-63 win against UMass Boston (0-1) on Sunday in the team's 2017-18 home opener.
 
The first half saw seven tied scores before the River Hawks put together a 60-point effort in the second to pull away for the victory.
 
"We played a great second half of basketball," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "I was really happy with the way we defended, shared the basketball and got everybody involved. It was a disappointing first half. We gave up far too many open shots, but we responded well in the second half, so that's the encouraging part. Overall, one bad half and one good half. We're excited about our first win and looking forward to getting ready for Marist on Wednesday."
 
R. Jones went 8-for-13 from the field en route to his 23-point performance. He was joined in double-figures by junior Shawn Jones (Bridge City, La.), who finished with a season-high 18 points, and senior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.), who went 7-for-8 from the foul line with 17 total points. Redshirt-sophomore Connor Bennett (Wilmington, Mass.) registered his first career double-double with a personal-best 14 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman Obadiah Noel (Frederick, Md.) chipped in with 12 points.
 
The Beacons attacked in the opening minutes of the contest, pulling ahead by as many as seven at 16-9 with 14:07 remaining in the first half. However, the River Hawks took advantage of the visitors' early foul trouble and capped off a stretch of 13 unanswered points with back-to-back buckets from Harris to take their first lead of the day, 22-16, at 8:35.
 
Bernard Taylor and Charlie Mitchell knocked down baskets on consecutive trips down the court for UMass Boston, knotting the score once again, this time at 26-26 with 5:39 left in the half. The teams traded points in the waning minutes before Noel grabbed an offensive rebound and finished off a dunk just before the buzzer to force the game's seventh stalemate at 42-42 heading into the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, the River Hawks pulled back in front thanks to a three from Ryan Jones and a dunk from Bennett, although the Beacons battled to even the board twice more in the next four minutes, including at 52-52 with less than 15 minutes to go.
 
The River Hawks quickly took sole possession of the momentum, though, as a tip-in from Bennett sparked a 31-1 run that created an 83-53 buffer over the next nine minutes.
 
The Beacons were paced by Mitchell and Taylor with 17 and 10 points, respectively. Dasan Cinelli posted a team-high 10 rebounds.  
 
Sunday's contest marked the fifth meeting between UMass Lowell and UMass Boston in the sport of men's basketball. The River Hawks, who now lead that all-time series, 3-2, will remain at home this week, hosting Marist on Wednesday, November 15 in a 7:30 p.m. tilt.