Box Score (PDF)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Junior Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) paced the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (5-5) with a game-high 20 points in an 89-75 loss at Brown (5-5) on Saturday afternoon.
 
The River Hawks cut the difference to just one early in the second half, but the Bears converted 13-of-16 free throws on 14 fouls in the final period to pull away for good.
 
"We're going to have to get back and watch the tape," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "We have to find a way to play defense without fouling because that was the story of the game. That's how Brown gained the separation that they did. To their credit, they were very good free throw shooters. I think our offense was pretty good today, but we had too many guys playing lots of minutes for us that weren't productive. If we're going to win tough games against good teams on the road, we have to get four or five guys in double figures."
 
Seniors Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) and Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) rounded out the double-digit scorers for the River Hawks with 15 points apiece, while Thomas added a team-high nine rebounds. A total of 10 different River Hawks contributed to the offense on the day for a new season high, as well.
 
UMass Lowell and Brown played evenly matched in the opening minutes of the contest with neither side able to lead by more than two points in the first eight minutes. The teams were also tied on six occasions during that stretch, including at 13-13, but the Bears would score six in a row to pull in front, 19-13, with 9:48 remaining in the first half.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Connor Bennett (Wilmington, Mass.) converted on an and-1 and added another put-back on the team's next trip down the court to make it a one-possession game at 21-18. The River Hawks kept the game within two baskets until a quick, 11-3 spurt by Brown created a 32-21 buffer with 5:41 to play in the first.
 
Redshirt-junior Josh Gantz (Grove City, Ohio) answered with a three from the wing, recording the first of seven straight points for the visitors and cutting the deficit to just four in the waning minutes of the period. However, the Bears worked to take a 42-36 edge into the break.
 
The River Hawks took control of the momentum coming out of the break with back-to-back baskets from R. Jones followed by a three from Harris that put the team in front, 44-43, with 17:53 left in the outing.
 
The lead was short-lived, though, as Brown used a 22-7 run to pull ahead by its largest margin of the day, 76-57, at 5:34. UMass Lowell closed the gap to 10 with six points from Thomas and a three from R. Jones before the home team secured the 89-72 outcome.
 
Brandon Anderson went 12-for-12 from the line in the matchup en route to leading the Bears with 20 points. Matt DeWolf paced the squad on the boards with eight.
 
Saturday's contest marked just the third meeting between UMass Lowell and Brown in the sport of men's basketball. Brown owns the 3-0 edge in the series. The River Hawks will return home for one more game before a break for finals, as they host Boston University on December 13 at 5 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader at Costello.