Box Score (PDF)

LOWELL, Mass. – Redshirt-senior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) logged a team-high 22, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (10-16, 4-9 AE) held on down the stretch to defeat Binghamton (11-17, 2-11 AE) on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Bearcats pulled within three with less than 30 seconds left in regulation, but junior Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) and freshman Obadiah Noel (Frederick, Md.) both converted on important free throws to secure the decision.
 
"It was great to get a win at home against a good Binghamton team that played hard all the way to the end," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "This was one of a few games we've played all year where we've been ahead from start to finish, but they made it a game down the stretch. I was a little disappointed with some of the things we did when we were up 10-12 when I thought we could have closed the game out, but defensively I thought the first half was one of our best. Offensively, we did a really good job adjusting at halftime."
 
Thomas added eight rebounds on the day, while Jones finished with 14 points and a career-high tying seven assists. Senior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) and Noel chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively, and redshirt-junior Josh Gantz (Grove City, Ohio) totaled a personal-best 10 rebounds. With the win, the River Hawks log their fifth consecutive season at the Division I level with at least 10 victories.
 
A pair of threes by Jones in the opening minute put the River Hawks in front early, as the home squad maintained the upper hand until the Bearcats knotted the score for the first time at 9-9 with 13:42 remaining in the half.
 
The River Hawk offense quickly regained the momentum when redshirt-sophomore Connor Bennett (Wilmington, Mass.) completed a three-point play to spark an 11-2 run that gave his team a 20-11 edge at 9:17. Binghamton followed with a three to make it a two-possession game, but UMass Lowell would extend its margin to double-digits, 30-20, on a triple from Noel with just over four minutes left in the period. However, the visitors tallied the last seven points of the first to cut the difference back to just three at the break.
 
Thomas registered the River Hawks' first 10 points coming out of halftime to help the squad maintain at least a two-point buffer. Harris then drained a long ball from the top of the key, igniting a 13-4 spurt that made the score 53-40 with 10:27 still to play.   
 
The Bearcats closed the gap to back to single digits, although the River Hawks answered with 11 of the next 15 points, including four from Gantz, to take their largest lead yet, 66-52, at 1:48. Binghamton continued to battle with an 11-3 run, forcing the home team to convert at the line in the final minute.
 
J.C. Show paced the Bearcats with 15 points, while Thomas Bruce logged a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds.
 
Sunday's contest marked the 15th meeting between UMass Lowell and Binghamton in the sport of men's basketball. The River Hawks now lead the all-time series, 11-4. The squad plays its final home game of the regular season on Wednesday, February 21 at Tsongas when they host Maine in a 7 p.m. Senior Night tilt.