Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Although the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (11-17, 5-8 AE) erased a 25-point, second-half deficit, the squad's valiant efforts to complete the comeback were thwarted, as Hartford (8-19, 3-9 AE) earned an 87-84 decision in overtime on Sunday.
 
After trailing for 31 minutes of play, the River Hawks came from behind to knot the score at 57-57 with 5:29 left in regulation. Three big threes from sophomore Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) down the stretch put the visitors on top, but Hartford's J.R. Lynch pulled up at the buzzer to send the teams into overtime tied at 70-70. The Hawks scored first in the extra period, and despite UMass Lowell being within one with 52 seconds to go, Lynch hit three pivotal free throws to help secure the outcome.
 
"It was a tale of two halves," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "The first half was one of our worst halves this season in terms of coming out with intensity and I don't know what caused that. I'm fortunate that I've had a team where that's rarely happened any year. We had a real honest conversation in the locker room and I'm pleased with the way we came out in the second. We erased a 25-point deficit on the road and put ourselves in a great position to win the game, but Hartford hit a couple of big shots at the end."
 
Jones paced the River Hawks' offense with a career- and team-high eight threes for 24 points. Redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) picked up his 11th double-double of the year with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while senior Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) and junior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) added 17 and 12 points, respectively.
 
The River Hawks took advantage of four early Hartford turnovers, as Jones and Harris each knocked down a triple in the opening minutes. The home team was quick to respond, though, posting 12 consecutive points to take the upper hand, 12-6, with 15:14 remaining in the first half.
 
The River Hawks pulled within four on two occasions before Hartford used a 10-2 spurt to build a 26-14 margin at 8:09. Jones drained a long ball and freshman Stefan Borovac (Stoney Creek, Ontario) followed with a pair of free throws, helping the visitors cut the difference back to single digits, but UMass Lowell was unable to get the ball to fall in the last six minutes of the period, allowing Hartford to tally 14 unanswered points and take a 40-19 edge into the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, the Hawks stretched their lead to 25 at 46-21. However, the River Hawks battled back to tally 12 of the next 14 points, including six from Livingston, and make it a 15-point game at 48-33 with 13:18 still to play.
 
Hartford led by as many as 17 once more until UMass Lowell put together a 12-3 run that was capped off by Jones' three from the corner, closing the gap to 53-45 at nine minutes on the clock. Thomas then drove to the hoop and sophomore Logan Primerano (Peru, Ind.) added two free throws to put their team within striking distance before a pair of threes from Harris helped tie it up at 57-57.
 
Hartford was led by two 20-point scorers in Lynch (22) and Jason Dunne (29). Hassan Attia added 19 points, as well.
 
Sunday's contest marked the 13th meeting between UMass Lowell and Hartford in the sport of men's basketball. The Hawks now own an 8-5 edge in the all-time series. The River Hawks return to Lowell for their second to last home game of the year when they welcome Vermont to the Tsongas Center on February 15.