SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Fifth year Max Brooks (Waldorf, Md.) tallied 12 points and eight rebounds, as the UMass Lowell River Hawks (13-6, 2-2 AE) fell to the Bryant Bulldogs (10-9, 4-0 AE) on Saturday afternoon, 85-62.
 
Brooks was one of four River Hawks to reach double-digit scoring. Fifth year Yuri Covington (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) also added 12, while freshman Martin Somerville (Bowie, Md.) added 11 points and three steals. Rounding things out, fifth year Quinton Mincey (Upper Marlboro, Md.) chipped in with 10 points alongside a team-high 13 rebounds.
 
The game opened as a defensive battle, with Bryant scoring the game's lone basket for well over three minutes. Although the Bulldogs added six more to make it an eight-point game, senior Cam Morris III (Alexander City, Ala.) sank two free throws, and Somerville followed a Bryant basket with a triple to make it a two-score game, 10-5, with 13:27 on the clock. The hosts responded with a three of their own, and despite a layup from Somerville cutting into the lead, the Bulldogs used an 11-0 stretch to own a 24-7 advantage midway through the first.
 
Despite the early deficit, the River Hawks would not back down, as Mincey found senior Xzavier Lino (Phoenix, Ariz.) wide open from beyond the arc to end the opposition's run. Both sides proceeded to go back-and-forth, with the River Hawks holding a slight edge, 8-7, thanks to four points each from Brooks and fifth year Anthony Blunt (Glen Dale, Md.). With just over five minutes remaining in the half, the Bulldogs looked to extend their lead, using a 5-0 burst to make it 36-18, but UMass Lowell countered with five of its own with a trey from Covington and turnaround jumper from Somerville. However, in the period's final minutes, the Bulldogs went on a 9-5 run to own a 45-28 lead at the break.
 
Despite Bryant scoring the first basket of the half, the visitors went to work, going on a 7-1 run, highlighted by four from Mincey and a triple from senior Quincy Clark (Columbus, Ohio), cutting the lead to 48-35. Moments later, the Bulldogs put together an 8-0 run to extend their lead, and although UMass Lowell put together an 8-3 stretch in response, the home side retaliated with 12 of the next 13 points to make it 71-44 with just over 11 minutes remaining.
 
Looking to find a way back in the game, the River Hawks continued to battle in the final minutes, but were unable to mount a comeback, sealing the 85-62 final.
 
Next up, the River Hawks return home to host the Maine Black Bears on Thursday, January 23. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Costello Athletic Center.