Box Score (PDF)

LOWELL, Mass. – Despite forcing eight lead changes in the second half, a shot at the buzzer proved to be the difference, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (2-4) succumbed to Merrimack (2-2), 60-58, on Saturday.
 
"As tough as it was last night, I guess tonight makes it twice as tough," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "We had two extremely close games on our home floor that we lost on the last possession against two really good teams. At this point, we're not happy with where we stand. I think some of it is learning how to win and making big plays down the stretch."                     
 
Tied at 58-58 with 18 seconds left on the clock following a pair of free throws by junior Obadiah Noel (Frederick, Md.), Merrimack ran down the clock for one final shot from Juvaris Hayes that found the net at the buzzer.
 
Graduate student Christian Lutete (Silver Spring, Md.) finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the year. Noel and graduate student Josh Gantz (Grove City, Ohio) added to the offense with eight points apiece.  
 
Lutete drove to the hoop for the first bucket of the game, but the Warriors quickly jumped in front and worked to build a double-digit lead, 23-11, with 10:53 remaining in the first half. The visitors would lead by as many as 14 before the River Hawks scored eight in a row, including a four-point play by Lutete, to cut the difference to two possessions, 29-23, at 3:23. However, Merrimack tallied four of the last six points to take a 33-25 buffer into the break.
 
The visitors grabbed the first bucket coming out of halftime, but the River Hawks battled back to take control of the momentum with a run of 11 unanswered points that was capped off by an and-1 from Noel to knot the game at 36-36 with 16:01 left to play.
 
Both sides struggled for control with eight lead changes before Noel drained an off-balance three to even the board at 56-56 with 1:09 to go. Noel stepped up again and sunk two important free throws to force the final tie.
 
The River Hawk Invitational concludes tomorrow, as UMass Lowell is set to square off against Dartmouth at 3:30 p.m.
 
"We've got one day left," added Duquette. "They call this gut-check time. We'll see who wants it the most tomorrow and hopefully we can leave with one win."