IOWA CITY, IOWA – Junior Angel Montas Jr. (La Romana, Dominican Republic) scored a game-high 23 points, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (5-10) dropped its final non-conference game of the season to the #25 Iowa Hawkeyes (11-2), 90-62, on Monday afternoon.

"We are excited to be done with our non-conference schedule and move onto conference play," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "Iowa is a top 25 team and was the most well-coached team we played all year. I feel like our team has noticeably improved and survived our toughest non-conference schedule ever."

Montas Jr., who added six rebounds, three assists, and two steals, was one of three River Hawks to finish with double-digit scoring efforts. Junior Darrel Yepdo (Dracut, Mass.) added ten points and five assists, while junior Xavier Spencer (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) finished with ten points and three assists.

Iowa got to work early, scoring the first eight points of the game in the opening minutes. Although senior Austin Green (Sicklerville, N.J.) sank a layup for the team's first points of the night at 17:24, and Montas Jr. added a basket of his own moments later, the Hawkeyes stayed strong on offense, scoring seven straight to own a 17-4 lead just over five minutes in. Although Yepdo ended the scoring run with a triple, the Hawkeyes stayed persistent, extending their advantage to 28-8 midway through the first half.

Looking to cut into the deficit, the visitors went to work on the offensive end, as Yepdo sank a jumper while junior Khalil Farmer (Philadelphia, Pa.) knocked down an open look from three. Despite Iowa responding with four points, UMass Lowell kept it up on the offensive end, using an 8-3 stretch, featuring baskets from Green, Montas Jr., Spencer, and freshman JJ Massaquoi (Prince George's County, Md.) to make it 35-21 with 4:32 to play. The Hawkeyes answered right back with 12 of the next 14 points, but the visitors ended the half strong, going on a 7-0 burst, highlighted by an and-1 in the final seconds from Montas Jr. to make it a 47-30 game at the break.

Coming out of halftime, the River Hawks picked up where they left off, as Massaquoi threw down a dunk only 24 seconds in before Montas Jr. added another basket to make it a 13-point game. Iowa responded immediately, using a 15-3 run to extend its advantage with just over 12 minutes to play. UMass Lowell refused to back down, though, scoring six of the next eight, with four from Montas Jr. and two from Green, to make it 64-43 with 10:27 remaining in the game.

In the final 10 minutes, the visitors continued to fight to make a comeback, as Montas Jr. added nine points, Spencer six, and junior Jerrell Roberson II (Upper Marlboro, Md.) added a basket over that span. The Hawkeyes, however, refused to let them pull any closer, sealing the 90-62 final score.

Next up, the River Hawks return home to begin America East conference play when they welcome the UAlbany Great Danes to town on Saturday, January 3. Opening tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex.