Box Score (PDF)

LOWELL, Mass. – Graduate student Christian Lutete (Silver Spring, Md.) logged a game-high 23 points and nine rebounds, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (4-6) dropped a closely-contested decision against Sacred Heart (5-4), 89-86, on Wednesday evening.
 
"Even though we lost today and won on Sunday, I thought we played a lot better today," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "That part I'm much happier about. It was one of the best games we've played all year, and that's the best team we've played outside of Ohio State and UMass. They're experienced and they know how to play. Down the stretch, they knew how to make winning plays. I think that's what separated the two teams. I thought we were in control most of the game, but at those critical moments down the stretch, we didn't always make winning plays."
 
With his performance, Lutete became the 43rd student-athlete ever to join the school's prestigious 1,000 Career Point Club. Junior Obadiah Noel (Frederick, Md.) added to the offense with 21 points on the night, while freshman Connor Withers (Manassas, Va.) chipped in with 14 points and graduate student Josh Gantz (Grove City, Ohio) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11.
 
The offense for both sides came out on the attack, combining for 37 points in the first six minutes. Sacred Heart maintained a one-possession buffer during that stretch until Noel drained a step-back jumper and Gantz followed with a one-handed layup to give the River Hawks their first lead of night, 21-20, with 12:16 remaining in the first half.
 
The teams continued the offensive showdown with five quick lead changes before Noel knocked down a three, and freshman Ron Mitchell (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Gantz followed with back-to-back buckets of their own, extending UMass Lowell's lead to 32-26 at 8:24. SHU would knot the score twice inside the final four minutes of the half, but Owens hit a jumper to retake the lead for his squad, as the home team outscored its opponent, 7-5, to head into the break on top, 49-47.
 
The River Hawks held the Pioneers without a field goal in the first three minutes of the second half, pulling ahead by double-digits at 62-51 on Lutete's bucket to surpass 1,000 career points. However, Sacred Heart marched right back with a 10-2 run that cut the difference to 64-61 with 13:30 left to play.
 
UMass Lowell preserved at least a three-point buffer until the Pioneers scored eight in a row to regain the lead, 84-82, at 3:05. Owens converted at the foul line to put his team within one, but the Pioneers used free throws of their own down the stretch to seal the decision.
 
The Pioneers now own a 26-20 advantage in the all-time series. The River Hawks will wrap up their eight-game homestand on Saturday, December 7 when they welcome St. Francis Brooklyn to Costello Athletic Center.