UMass Lowell routs Cornell 98-78 at Tsongas Center

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The UMass Lowell River Hawks played their first game of the season at Tsongas Center on Sunday afternoon. Behind six player’s in double figures, they took care of the Cornell Big Red by twenty 98-78.

With the win, they improved to 3-1 on the young season, and are off to their best start since becoming a Division I program. The start also matches the best start for the program since 2012-13.

FINAL: The #RiverHawks come out on top over Cornell 98-78! Perry marks a new career high of 26 points! Thomas with 17 points and 5 assists. #AEHoops #UnitedInBlue #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/DS87KTnzEj

— UMass Lowell MBB (@RiverHawkMBB) November 19, 2017

In most cases, stats did not tell the complete story of a game but this time they did. The River Hawks controlled the game in several different areas. They outrebounded the Big Red by a plus four (34 to 30 including 15 to nine on the offensive glass), plus 10 in the turnover battle. Umass Lowell committed only 11 for the game and Cornell had 22. Head Coach Pat Duquette of the River Hawks was pleased with the way his team took care of the basketball throughout. The home team scored 52 points in the paint. River Hawks big men were active around the rim all afternoon and did there share of finishing.

Rinardo Perry got things going for UMass Lowell, by scoring seven of their first eleven points of the game. He would finish with game-high honors of 26 points on 11 of 19 shooting, including four of eight from deep.

Rinardo had himself a day with a career-high 26 points to lead us to a 98-78 victory over Cornell and our best start since 03-04! #AEHoops pic.twitter.com/4GmRNDUV0J

— UMass Lowell MBB (@RiverHawkMBB) November 19, 2017

Cornell hung tough with UMass Lowell behind their leading scorer Matt Morgan, who scored 13 of his team-leading 25 points in the first half. After the game, Duquette said he is the best player we have faced so far this year. The Big Red also got help off the bench from Stone Gettings, who dropped 11 of his 13 points in the half to keep Cornell close.

As the half worn on, Umass Lowell started to stretch the lead, something that coach Duquette thought they did not do in their last game vs Marist.

They would reach double figures for the first time, with four minutes left in the first twenty minutes. A three-pointer from Senior Jahad Thomas gave the home team an 11 point lead at 38 to 27. Thomas, for the second straight game, finished with a double-double of 17 and 10. They would go to the break up ten 43 to 33.

In the second half, the River Hawks maintained the double-digit lead. Only one time did the lead drop below 10, on a layup in the paint by Cornell big man Sophomore Josh Warren that made the score 48 to 40 with 17:36 left in the game.

From there it was all River Hawks as the lead reached 20 for the first time on a three-pointer by Perry 82-62 with 6:44 left in the game. The only thing left to decide was if the home team would give the crowd of close to seven hundred a game of 100 points. They did not, but it was not necessary. Final score from Lowell, 98-78 River Hawks.

UMass Lowell also got solid efforts from Matt Harris 11 points, Ryan Jones with 14, Shawn Jones had 11, and Connor Bennett with 11 points off the bench to go with five rebounds all on the offensive glass and two assists.

Next up for the River Hawks is a pre-holiday game vs LIU Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon at 3 pm.