Box Score (PDF)

LOWELL, Mass. – Sophomore Rinardo Perry (Washington, D.C.) posted a game- and career-high 26 points to lift the UMass Lowell men's basketball team to a 98-78 win against Cornell (1-3) on Sunday afternoon at the Tsongas Center.
 
With the victory, the River Hawks improve to 3-1 to start the season for the first time at the Division I level. The 98-point performance also marked the team's most points ever scored in a game at Tsongas.
 
"I was really happy to get a good win on our home floor," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "There was a nice crowd, the place looked great. Our guys didn't play perfect, but we did a lot of good things today. A lot of guys got involved, five in double-digits, which really excites me because that's a good indication that the ball is moving. We did a great job rebounding and generating extra possessions. The positive thing is, we're winning basketball games while we're still getting better, so that's a good sign."
 
Perry, who also set new personal bests with 11 field goals and four three-pointers, was joined in double figures by redshirt-senior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.), who logged his second double-double this season with 17 points and 10 rebounds, in addition to junior Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.), who finished with 14. Senior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.), junior Shawn Jones (Bridge City, La.) and redshirt-sophomore Connor Bennett each chipped in with 11 points, as well.
 
As a team, UMass Lowell shot a season-best 51.4 percent (37-72) from the field, while tallying 11 steals and forcing 22 turnovers, both of which were also season highs.
 
Although Cornell scored the first points of the day, the River Hawks followed with nine in a row, including five from Perry, to jump out to an early lead. The Big Red responded with a quick, 9-2 spurt to take the upper hand, but back-to-back layups from redshirt-junior Josh Gantz (Grove City, Ohio) and Thomas put the home squad back in front, 17-14, with 12:34 remaining in the first half.
 
The teams traded baskets in the next three minutes with five lead changes before R. Jones banked one in and Bennett followed with a short jumper, sparking an 8-2 run that gave the home squad a 29-24 edge at 6:59. The Big Red closed the gap back to two, but Harris then scored the first of what would be 11 straight points for the River Hawks to help the team take a 43-33 advantage into the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, a steal from Harris led to a triple from R. Jones for the first points of the second.  The visitors answered with seven of the next nine points to cut the difference to eight, however they were unable to come any closer, as UMass Lowell capped off a 12-4 run with a long ball from Harris and a put-back from Bennett to pull away, 62-45, with just over 13 minutes left.
 
Cornell worked back to within 11 on two occasions until a floater from S. Jones and a three from the corner by Perry gave the River Hawks their largest lead of the day, 82-62, at 6:44. The home squad maintained at least 13-point buffer in the final minutes en route to the decision.
 
Sunday's contest marked the fourth meeting between UMass Lowell and Cornell in the sport of men's basketball, and the third consecutive win for the River Hawks. The team is slated to remain at home to host LIU Brooklyn on Wednesday, November 22 in a 3 p.m. tilt at Costello Athletic Center.