Box Score (PDF)

ALBANY, N.Y. – Redshirt-senior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) recorded a team-high 22 points, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (6-12, 0-5 AE) was outlasted by UAlbany (15-6, 3-3 AE), 70-62, on Thursday evening.
 
The River Hawks made it a two-point game at 57-55 on a three from sophomore Rinardo Perry (Washington, D.C.) with less than five minutes to go, but were unable to come any closer.
 
"We've always managed to play pretty well here in Albany," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "I was happy with tonight's effort. I felt our guys were pretty locked in defensively. We did some switching between man and zone, and I thought the guys adjusted to that well for the first time. We just didn't score enough points, so we need to find a way to finish those layups around the hoop. We also had way too many turnovers tonight, 14 in the first half, which is very uncharacteristic for us."
 
The performance marked Thomas' second consecutive 22-point showing. Perry chipped in with 13 points, while junior Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) totaled nine points and a season-high six assists. As a team, the River Hawks shot 53 percent (16-30) from the field in a strong second half.
 
The Great Danes took advantage of their opportunities at the foul line in the opening minutes of the contest to jump in front, but senior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) pulled up for a deep three in transition to give the River Hawks their first lead of the night at 8-6 with 14:55 remaining in the first half.
 
The home team evened the board four times over the next six minutes before using back-to-back buckets to regain the upper hand, 20-16, at 7:45. UMass Lowell was able to keep the difference within two possessions thanks to six points from Thomas, but UAlbany closed the period on a 10-2 run to head into the break with a 33-24 edge.
 
Redshirt-junior Josh Gantz (Grove City, Ohio) knocked down a three to open the scoring in the second half, as the teams traded baskets with the Great Danes maintaining at least a six-point margin. Perry then drained a three from the wing and Thomas followed with a layup, cutting the deficit to just five at 43-38 with 14:30 still to go.
 
UAlbany would stretch its lead to 10, 51-41, but Thomas answered with a jumper from beyond the arc to spark a 7-0 spurt that put the River Hawks within three with 7:41 left to play. The teams traded baskets until Perry hit from downtown to make it a two-point game, 57-55, at 4:46. However, the Great Danes outscored the visitors, 13-7, down the stretch to seal the outcome.
 
Joe Cremo logged a game-high 23 points for UAlbany, while Greig Stire and David Nichols each added 13.
 
Thursday's contest marked the 18th meeting between UMass Lowell and Albany in the sport of men's basketball. The River Hawks still lead the all-time series, 10-8. The squad remains in New York for the weekend, heading to Binghamton for a 2 p.m. tilt on Sunday, January 21.