COLUMBUS, Ohio – The UMass Lowell men's basketball team (1-2) turned in a valiant, complete-game effort in a 74-64 setback at No. 23 Ohio State that was decided inside of the final two minutes at the Covelli Center on Sunday.
 
The teams were tied for the seventh and final time at 59-59 before the Buckeyes hit back-to-back buckets to pull ahead with five minutes left on the clock. Sophomore Darion Jordan-Thomas (Brockton, Mass.) and senior Obadiah Noel (Frederick, Md.) then each made a jumper on the River Hawks' next two possessions to close the gap to just 65-63. However, OSU closed the game on a 9-1 run, including a clutch three by Duane Washington, Jr. to seal the outcome.
 
"I thought our team played well," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "It was an exciting game and we had a chance to win it right down to the last minute, which is a great spot for us to be in. This was really exciting for our guys to make this trip to come out here and play Ohio State of the Big Ten, such a well-coached team and program. It was a really nice trip and we were grateful to get two games in because we all know how hard that is these days. So, overall I was really pleased with the way we played, but I thought we made some careless mistakes at a crucial point in the game and against a good team like Ohio State, that's all it takes."
 
All nine River Hawks who touched the court scored at least a point, led by Noel with 15. The senior added a team-best seven rebounds and five assists, as well. Junior Allin Blunt (Bowie, Md.) and redshirt-sophomore Bryce Daley (Pittsfield, Mass.) rounded out the squad's double-digit scorers with 11 points apiece. Additionally, the River Hawks' performance from beyond the arc helped make the game a close one, as the team combined for 11 threes, while holding Ohio State without a long ball for more than 25 minutes of action.
 
For the third consecutive game this season, sophomore Connor Withers (Manassas, Va.) tallied the first points of the contest, but the Buckeyes settled in, building a three-possession margin at 14-6 with 12:22 remaining in the first half. The teams traded baskets, as the home squad led by eight on three more occasions until freshman Max Brooks (Waldorf, Md.)  knocked down a three to make it 21-16 at 7:40.
 
Triples from Noel and Daley helped cut the difference to just two three minutes later, before Jordan-Thomas converted at the line, making it a one-point game, 27-26. Ohio State held onto at least that one-point edge until sophomore Kalil Thomas (New Orleans, La.) drained a jumper from long range to erase the difference at 31-31 with less than two minutes left in the period. OSU jumped in front once again thanks to a pair of free throws, but Jordan-Thomas drove to the hoop just before the buzzer to knot it up, 33-33, heading into the break.
 
The sides were tied once more in the opening minutes of the second before Daley banked in a layup and Blunt hit from downtown to give UMass Lowell its largest lead, 41-36, with 15:59 still to go. The visitors controlled the pace of play and maintained at least a one-possession lead until the Buckeyes scored eight unanswered to turn the board in their favor, 56-51.
 
The River Hawks' next matchup has yet to be determined, as their next two non-conference tilts on the schedule have been postponed by their opponents.