Box Score (PDF)

LOWELL, Mass. – Despite trailing by as many as 16 in the second half, the UMass Lowell men's basketball team mounted an impressive comeback in the final 10 minutes of the outing to earn an 83-75 victory against Loyola (Md.) (1-4) on Sunday afternoon.
 
The River Hawks remain unbeaten at home this season (5-0) for their best their best home court start since 2009-10 (6-0), while improving to 5-1 overall. The decision marks the largest second-half deficit the team has overcome since moving to Division I, as well.
 
Down 66-56 with 10 still to go, junior Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) hit a three that sparked 20 unanswered points over the next seven minutes for UMass Lowell, including a trio of long balls from senior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.), to put the squad in front, 76-66.
 
"We're glad to get another win here at home," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "I thought the crowd was great. There seems to be some excitement growing on campus, which is great for our guys. It was a disappointing first half, no question about it. We've been playing better defense than that and that's all we talked about in the locker room at halftime. We made a couple defensive adjustments, in terms of switching screens, and continued to stress the importance of moving the ball on offense."
 
Harris finished with a game-high 19 points and five triples, while redshirt-senior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) earned his third double-double of the year with 17 points and 14 rebounds. R. Jones and sophomore Rinardo Perry (Washington, D.C.) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 and 10 points, respectively. As a team, the River Hawks logged a season-high 12 threes, eight of which came in the second half.
 
The sides alternated baskets to begin the contest and were tied at 7-7 following a fast-break layup by redshirt-junior Josh Gantz (Grove City, Ohio), but the Greyhounds would score the next eight points to create a 15-7 buffer with 14:04 remaining in the first half.
 
R. Jones knocked down a three and Thomas put back his own rebound, as the River Hawks outscored their opponent 10-5 in the next two minutes to make it a one-possession game, 20-17, at 10:26. The visitors maintained at least a three-point advantage until Harris hit a jumper and a pull-up three on back-to-back trips down the court, cutting the difference to 27-25 with seven minutes to go in the period.
 
Loyola led by as many as eight in the waning minutes of the half before Perry drained a long three at the buzzer to make the score 45-40 heading into the break. The Greyhounds then stretched their lead to 13 coming out of halftime, and although Harris responded with another long ball for UMass Lowell, the visitors took their largest lead of the day, 61-45, at 15:47 in the second.
 
The River Hawks turned the momentum in their favor with consecutive buckets from redshirt-sophomore Connor Bennett (Wilmington, Mass.) and Thomas, as well as a pair of free throws from junior Shawn Jones (Bridge City, La.) that closed the gap to 61-51 with 12:49 left.
 
Sunday's contest marked just the second meeting ever between UMass Lowell and Loyola. The all-time series is now tied, 1-1. The River Hawks will wrap up their current six-game homestand on Wednesday, Nov. 29 when they host Sacred Heart at Costello Athletic Center beginning at 7 p.m.