River Hawks Improve to 2-0 with 71-61 Victory over Merrimack

Thursday, November 5

North Andover, MA

7PM

University of Massachusetts Lowell

2-0,0-0America East

Merrimack

0-2,0-0Metro

Team	1	2	F
UMass Lowell	38	33	71
Merrimack	26	35	61

Jayden Harris Running Down Court vs. Merrimack

11/5/2026 9:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Sophomore Jayden Harris (Dumfries, Va.) recorded a career-high 26 points and 11 rebounds, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (2-0) took down the Merrimack Warriors (0-2), 71-61, in game one of the America East-Metro Challenge.

Harris, who added two assists, two blocks, and a steal alongside his first career double-double, was one of three River Hawks to tally double-digit points. Behind him, sophomore Victor Okojie (Castlebar, Ireland) added 16 points and six rebounds, while senior Jakai Newton (Covington, Ga.) finished with 12 points and four rebounds.

Although the Warriors scored first 16 seconds in, the River Hawks came out hot, hitting three straight shots from deep to take an early 9-2 lead. Merrimack responded with six points of their own, but a jumper by Harris kickstarted a 9-2 run for the visitors, highlighted by seven from the Virginia native, extending the UMass Lowell lead to eight with 13:01 on the clock. The hosts fought right back, scoring 11 of the next 13 points to take a one-point lead, 21-20, with just over seven minutes until halftime.

Looking to regain the lead heading into the break, the River Hawks locked down defensively, allowing only five points the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the offense got to work, as Okojie connected on a hook shot before sophomore Isaiah Walter (Central Coast, Australia) knocked down a trio of free throws. Moments later, Newton threw down a dunk and converted the and-1 opportunity to continue building momentum for the visitors. Closing out the first, Harris added eight points, including a pair of triples, while Okojie added another basket, giving UMass Lowell a 38-26 lead heading into the break.

Coming out of halftime, both teams put an emphasis on the defensive end, as the River Hawks held a slight scoring edge, 5-4, almost six minutes into the second. The back-and-forth battle continued, as Okojie threw down a dunk before the Warriors added two baskets, cutting the lead to 45-36 with 13:14 on the clock. UMass Lowell refused to be denied, though, as Okojie added another basket and Harris added a layup, extending the lead to 13 with 12 minutes to play.

After an 8-2 run by Merrimack made it a seven-point game less than four minutes later, freshman Elhadji Diallo (Dakar, Senegal) fought through contact for a layup, getting his squad back on the board. The River Hawks' defense continued to lock down, allowing only one basket over the next five minutes to help stretch the lead to 14, the largest lead of the night, with 3:30 to play. Over the final minutes, Merrimack continued to battle, adding 13 points down the stretch, but UMass Lowell added nine of their own, sealing the 71-61 victory.

Next up, the River Hawks return home to host the Marist Red Foxes on Sunday, November 8, in game two of the America East-Metro Challenge. Opening tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex.