LOWELL, Mass. – Fifth year Quinton Mincey (Upper Marlboro, Md.) logged a game-high 22 points along with nine rebounds, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (15-10, 4-6 AE) fell, 90-88, in overtime again UAlbany (13-13, 5-6 AE) on Thursday evening at Costello Athletic Center.
 
After battling through 19 lead changes and 16 tied scores, the teams headed for overtime even at 80-80. Fifth year Max Brooks (Waldorf, Md.) gave the River Hawks the first lead in the extra period by converting at the line and even though the Great Danes quickly erased the difference, layups from freshman Martin Somerville (Bowie, Md.) and fifth year Yuri Covington (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) bookended two more Brooks free throws to give the home team a six-point cushion with just over a minute to go. However, the visitors scored the final eight points of the contest to seal the outcome.
 
"It was an extremely tough loss for us on our home floor," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "I thought we earned it and we gave it back to them by not executing, missing our free throws and turning the ball over at the very end of the game. It's as simple as that. This one really hurts just because we fought so hard and we had it in our hands."
 
Brooks also added 20 points and nine rebounds on the night. Somerville added to the offense with 15 points, while Covington rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points and four assists.
 
Mincey got the River Hawks on the board to start the game and totaled three early buckets, as the home team built a two-possession lead. The Great Danes answered with five in a row to take their first lead and two quick lead changes ensued before the River Hawks used a 6-2 spurt to even the board at 17-17 with 11:18 remaining in the first half.
 
Just over a minute later, senior Xzavier Lino (Phoenix, Ariz.) hit a jumper to spark a 7-1 run for the home side that was capped off by a trey from Somerville to create a 24-20 lead at 9:02. UAlbany responded with seven in a row of their own to regain the upper hand and would maintain at least a one-point edge until Somerville knocked down another three to ignite a string of 11 straight River Hawk points, making it 39-33, with just over two minutes to go in the period. The Great Danes responded with seven of the final 10 points of the first, but a triple from Covington was enough to send UMass Lowell into the break on top, 42-40.
 
Although the visitors opened the second half on a 7-2 run to pull back in front, senior Cam Morris III (Alexander City, Ala.) and Covington drained back-to-back threes to give the River Hawks a 50-47 edge with 17:54 left to play. The Great Danes worked to even the board three minutes later at 53-53, and following one more tie, Mincey tallied five points to give the River Hawks a 60-57 margin at 13:04.
 
The teams were knotted once again at 62-62, and after back-to-back buckets from senior Quincy Clark (Columbus, Ohio) put the River Hawks on top, five more lead changes followed. Down by two with less than three minutes to go in regulation, fifth year Anthony Blunt (Glen Dale, Md.) and Somerville hit consecutive baskets to tilt the board back in favor of the home team, 78-76. UAlbany responded with the next four points, but Mincey floated in the last points of the half to force overtime at 80-80.
 
The River Hawks now make the short trek to New Hampshire for a 4 p.m. tipoff on Saturday, February 15.