Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview

STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) totaled 24 points and 10 rebounds, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (10-16, 4-7 AE) was handed an 83-72 loss at America East foe Stony Brook (14-10, 9-2 AE) on Monday evening.
 
The River Hawks were within one point of the lead early in the second half before the Seawolves pulled away by a double-digit margin.  
 
"We just need to get a little older, a little more experienced and realize there is actually another level of intensity that we need to achieve," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "Stony Brook has a roster full of juniors and seniors, kids that are strong and have been doing this for a long time. I thought we played great in the first half, even though we made some uncharacteristic mistakes and some turnovers. Stony Brook is a very good basketball team and you're going to have to play near perfect to beat them on their home floor. We never gave up, though, and I was proud of my guys for that."
 
Thomas' performance marked his ninth double-double of the season. Senior Tyler Livingston (Hudson, N.H.) and sophomore Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) chipped in with nine points apiece, while redshirt-sophomore Jordan Shea (Madison, Wis.) and sophomore Logan Primerano (Peru, Ind.) each added eight.
 
The River Hawks won the tip and opened the scoring with a three from Livingston, but the Seawolves tallied seven straight to create an advantage. Stony Brook led by as many as 10 before Thomas changed the momentum with four straight points, sparking a quick, 13-4 spurt for the visitors that was capped off by a three from Jones to close the gap to just one at 20-19 with 11:23 remaining in the first half.
 
SBU followed with triples on each of the squad's next three possessions to pull away, 30-21, at 8:31. The teams would trade baskets with the Seawolves maintaining at least a six-point margin until Thomas banked in back-to-back layups to make the score 37-33 with 2:36 left to go in the half. A pair of free throws from Primerano and a long ball from Livingston put the River Hawks within three, although Stony Brook's UC Iroegbu tallied the last points of the period, giving the home team a 43-38 edge at the break.
 
The River Hawks registered the first four points coming out of halftime thanks to layups from Thomas and Jones, cutting the difference back to just one. However, the Seawolves used an 11-3 stretch to extend their buffer to 54-45 with 12:42 still to play.
 
Wolter scored five in a row for UMass Lowell, but the home team answered with nine of the next 11 points to take their largest lead of the night, 66-52, at 8:28. Later in the period, Shea knocked down a three to make it 68-77, although the River Hawks did not come any closer, as Stony Brook earned the 83-72 outcome.
 
Roland Nyama paced SBU with 19 points on the night and Lucas Woodhouse notched 16. Junior Saintel posted a team-high nine rebounds.
 
Monday's contest marked the 16th meeting between UMass Lowell and Stony Brook in the sport of men's basketball. The Seawolves now own a 12-4 edge in the all-time series. The River Hawks are back in action on Thursday, February 9 when Maine comes to Costello Athletic Center for a 7 p.m. tipoff.