UMass Lowell wins 88-76 on Senior night over Maine

On Wednesday night the UMass Lowell River Hawks were trying to accomplish two objectives. First, to send their two seniors Jahad Thomas and Matt Harris out on a winning note. Second, to clinch a berth in the America East Tournament which gets underway on March 3rd.

Mission accomplished on both counts, as Thomas recorded his eighth double-double of the season and the 23rd of his career by going for 26 points and 11 rebounds. Harris contributed 18 points on 5-for-10 shooting and four of six from deep. As Head Coach Pat Duquette said afterward “it was a great day for UMass Lowell basketball“.

With tonight's 88-76 win against Maine, the River Hawks have officially CLINCHED a spot in their first ever #AEHoops Championship!! #RiseUp #UnitedInBlue pic.twitter.com/0ghi89ju5O

— UMass Lowell MBB (@RiverHawkMBB) February 22, 2018

The 88-76 win over the Maine Black Bears, secured a spot in the America East tournament on the River Hawks first try. They have not been able to play because of the transition period of four years the program went through moving from Division two to D1.

The game had its nervous moments for the home crowd. In the first half alone, there were 13 lead changes and five ties. For the River Hawks, it was not the two seniors carrying the team, but instead, it was junior Ryan Jones shouldering the load. Jones was red hot from the field in the first twenty minutes, going for 19 of his 24 points on six of nine shooting, four of six from behind the arc.

I mean c'mon, does it get any better than clinching the programs first @americaeast playoff berth on senior night? Thomas poured in 26, R. Jones added a season-high 24 (5-8 3-PT) while Harris added 18 (4-6 3-PT) #AEHoops pic.twitter.com/noEAaUCJQX

— UMass Lowell MBB (@RiverHawkMBB) February 22, 2018

The Maine Black Bears were also looking to clinch a postseason spot with a win and were able to match the River Hawks. This was thanks in large part to the play of Redshirt Junior Aaron Calixte, who in the first half scored 11 of his team-high 18 points.

The River Hawks were able to take a four-point lead of 47-43 to the locker room thanks to a 6-2 half-ending run. A Jones three-pointer was followed by an old-fashioned three-point play from Thomas.

The second half started with both teams trading baskets and the lead. It was not until the halfway mark of the second twenty minutes that the River Hawks begin to pull away from the visitors. An 8-2 run gave them a seven-point lead of 68-61 with ten to play in the game. Jones and Harris knocked down three-point shots, while Thomas was doing what he does best delivering on the block.

The home team finally put the game away in the final stages of the half as an 8-0 spurt gave UMass Lowell its largest lead to that point of 80-71. Thomas once again was in the middle of things, scoring six of the eight points.

River Hawks win on Senior Night! Senior Jahad Thomas finishes w/ 26 points, 11 rebounds and senior Matt Harris finishes w/ 18 points, 6 rebounds. Ryan Jones added a season-high 24 points as well as 5 rebounds and 6 assists. #AEHoops #RiseUp #UnitedInBlue pic.twitter.com/NYtJNshQGF

— UMass Lowell MBB (@RiverHawkMBB) February 22, 2018

With under two minutes to play, the River Hawks got it to double figures on a Rinardo Perry layup, 84-73 Lowell. It would stay above double figures for the rest of the game as the River Hawks got their fifth win in the conference against nine losses. Overall, they improved to 11-16 and the 11 wins match their win total from a year ago.

After the game both senior reflected on their time at UMass Lowell, both were in agreement that their time spent here was well worth it. When asked if both would be willing to help the program find players to bring in, both said yes.

Coach Duquette praised both players, for their play on the court, and what they have meant to the program off the hardwood. Replacing them will not be easy, but as the coach said: “we still have more basketball to play.”

For the Black Bears, they will stay on the road and head to Albany. They received 16 points from Vernon Lowndes Jr., 11 from Isaiah White and 10 from Andrew Fleming. Their record falls to 3-11 in the league and 6-23 overall.

UMass Lowell will finish up their regular season with a pair of road games, starting Saturday at UMBC.