JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Senior Austin Green (Sicklerville, N.J.) recorded a game-high 19 points, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (1-6) dropped a tightly-contested match with the Saint Peter's Peacocks (2-3), 68-66, on Saturday afternoon.

"Another tough road loss which we had our chances to win," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "Twenty-four turnovers is way too many, especially on a night when we shot poorly from the three-point line."

Green, who went 6-for-9 from the field, added ten rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Behind him, freshman JJ Massaquoi (Prince George's County, Md.) added 18 points, while five other River Hawks recorded a basket in the contest.

Both sides opened the game with strong defensive showings, as Saint Peter's held a slight, 6-5 advantage over six minutes into the match, with Green recording three points at the line for the River Hawks. Although the hosts used an and-1 to make it a two-possession game, UMass Lowell fired right back, using a 7-0 burst, highlighted by a three from junior Khalil Farmer (Philadelphia, Pa.) to own a 12-9 lead. The Peacocks answered with a pair of triples, but layups by Green and freshman Victor Okojie (Castlebar, Ireland) kept the visitors in front by one, 16-15, with just over nine minutes left in the half.

Midway through the period, Saint Peter's started to hit their stride from beyond the arc, sinking four straight threes as part of a 14-5 scoring stretch to take an eight-point lead, 29-21. UMass Lowell refused to back down, though, as Okojie threw down a dunk to kickstart a 9-2 run, including four points from Green, to cut the deficit to one. With 1:20 to play, the Peacocks connected on a quick jumper, and after a free throw by Green, they sank a shot from deep at the buzzer to take a 36-31 lead into halftime.

The River Hawks came out hot out of the break, recording the first ten points of the second half, beginning with a monstrous dunk by junior Shawn Simmons II (Philadelphia, Pa.) and a three from junior Jared Frey (Columbus, Ohio). The hosts, looking to whittle away at the five-point lead, used an 11-7 spurt to cut the difference to one, but Green threw down a dunk, giving his squad a 50-47 advantage with just over ten to play.

Battling back, Saint Peter's used a 13-point run to take the lead, 60-50. UMass Lowell, however, took momentum right back with a 13-2 scoring run of their own, regaining a one-point edge with 2:39 to play. The Peacocks locked down defensively, not allowing another basket while making two jumpers to pull in front by three, and although the River Hawks sank three from the charity stripe, the hosts added two of their own, sealing the 68-66 final score.

Next up, the River Hawks wrap up the five-game road trip when they visit Stonehill on Wednesday, November 26. Opening tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Merkert Gymnasium in Easton, Massachusetts.