Box Score (PDF)

MADISON, Wis. – Redshirt-junior Josh Gantz (Grove City, Ohio) posted a season-high 16 points in an 82-53 loss for the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (6-7) at Big Ten foe Wisconsin (8-7) on Saturday.
 
"We lost to a very good team tonight," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "We were severely outsized, so our game plan going in was to try and double-down on their bigs and then they went 5-for-8 from the three-point line in the first half. I think we did a little better job in the second half, but by that point, they were already up over 20 points. This was still a great experience for our guys, great arena and a big-time program."
 
Gantz shot 7-for-14 from the field in the outing, while adding three steals. Senior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) chipped in with 14 points, including four jumpers from beyond the arc. Redshirt-senior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.), who totaled nine points, brought down four rebounds and six assists, as well.
 
Wisconsin got off to a quick start with the first seven points of the contest, but a block by Gantz and a steal by Thomas produced back-to-back buckets, and Harris followed with a three from the wing to knot the score at 9-9 with 15:23 remaining in the first half.
 
The board was even once more before the Badgers used an 18-3 run over the next eight minutes to create a 29-14 edge at 5:37. Gantz and junior Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) hit jumpers on consecutive trips down the court to close the gap to 14, but the home squad tallied 10 of the last 12 points of the period to take a 42-20 buffer into the break.
 
Gantz knocked down a triple for the River Hawks' first points of the second, although the Badgers would stretch their margin to 53-23 with 15:56 left to play. Thomas gave the visitors some momentum with five straight points until Wisconsin then worked to take their largest margin of the night, 66-32, at 8:51.
 
Harris responded with a pull-up three, sparking a 13-4 spurt for UMass Lowell that made the score, 70-45, with 3:44 to go. However, the team was unable to come any closer, as Wisconsin sealed the 82-53 outcome.
 
Brevin Pritzl and Ethan Happ each logged a game-high 18 points, while Aleem Ford added 10 points. Pritzl and Ford both grabbed seven rebounds, as well.
 
Saturday's contest marked the first ever meeting between UMass Lowell and Wisconsin in the sport of men's basketball. The River Hawks will open America East Conference play on Thursday, January 4 when they host Vermont in a 7 p.m. tilt.