Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – Redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) tallied 19 points and five assists to help lead the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (10-15, 4-6 AE) to an exciting, 60-59 comeback victory against Binghamton (12-13, 3-7 AE) on Saturday.
 
The River Hawks trailed by as many as 16 late in the first half before putting together a 19-5 stretch that spanned into the second to energize the home squad.
 
"It was really good for us to be able to get the win while shooting the ball so poorly," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "Binghamton did a good job defensively keeping us off balance and changing their defenses. Another pivotal part was at the end of the first half when we fell down16 points. We didn't let that bother us and we didn't get discouraged. But we fought the last five minutes of the first half and got it within seven, so we went into halftime within reaching distance. We came out in the second, and our full-court press really energized us and got the crowd into the game, and we played well defensively.
 
Thomas was joined in double figures by sophomore Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) and senior Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
 
Jones fired an open three from the top of the key to put the River Hawks in front in the first minute of play, but after two quick ties, the Bearcats scored eight consecutive to take a 16-8 advantage with 13:46 remaining in the first half.
 
UMass Lowell was within eight once again following a jumper from Thomas at 10:09 in the period. However, the home team then faced a five minute drought without a field goal that allowed Binghamton to tally nine unanswered points and pull away by its largest margin, 28-12, with just over five minutes left in the first. The River Hawks would battle back before the break, though, as junior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) drained a triple to spark a 12-3 run that closed the gap to 31-24 heading into the locker rooms.
 
The home squad continued to pressure coming out of halftime, when Thomas banked in a pair of buckets and freshman Rinardo Perry knocked down a long ball, making it a one-possession game at 33-31 with 18:07 still to go. The Bearcats were able to stay at least one basket ahead until Perry struck again from beyond the arc and Jones laid one in, knotting the score, 38-38, at 14:41.
 
After leveling the scoreboard on one more occasion, the visitors used a 12-4 spurt to create a 52-47 buffer with 6:25 left to play. The River Hawks jumped on top thanks to back-to-back threes from Livingston and Jones inside of five minutes to go, but the difference would be erased twice more in the final minutes. Livingston then gave UMass Lowell some breathing room with a fast-break dunk with 12 seconds remaining, and despite the Bearcats getting three attempts at the foul line with just .3 seconds on the game clock, the home team held on for the 60-59 decision.
 
Saturday's contest marked the 13^th meeting between UMass Lowell and Binghamton in the sport of men's basketball. The River Hawks, who now own a 9-4 advantage in the all-time series against the Bearcats, have a quick turnaround, as they visit Stony Brook on Monday, February 6 for a 7 p.m. tilt.