UMass Lowell

Career night from Christian Lutete UMass Lowell defeats Loyola (MD)

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Head Coach Pat Duquette was a very happy man last night and why not. He just watched his Riverhawks play a whale of a game at Costello Athletic Center. Five Riverhawks finished in double-figures led by a career-high 34 points from Christian Lutete. UMass Lowell, (7-7) defeated Loyola (MD), (4-8) 97-79.

As has been the case in most Riverhawks games at home, UMass Lowell led for most of the night. As the coach said afterward, His team “played both ends of the floor very well”. His team’s defense in the second half was airtight as it limited the Greyhounds to 20% shooting from three-point range (2-10) and 46% (28-61) for the game from the field.

The Riverhawks got started right away knocking down five of their first six shots including a perfect four for four from deep. Their first double-digit lead came with just under ten minutes remaining in the half on a Darius Henderson offensive rebound tip in. 24-14 UMass Lowell.

What kept the Greyhounds in the game was creating turnovers. They forced seven in the first ten minutes of the game which led to nine Loyola points. A 12-2 run by Loyola was their best stretch of basketball on Friday night. Back to back threes from Chuck Champion (11 points) and Kenneth Jones (12 points) brought Loyola to within two at 32-30 with four and a half minutes left in the half.

A 12- 5 run by the Riverhawks closed out the first half and gave them a 45-35 halftime advantage. Lutete scored ten of those twelve points on his way to a career night that included six rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

The second half began with the Greyhounds showing some fight. They would score the first four points of the second twenty minutes on their way to a seven to two burst. Kavaughn Scott had six of those points by taking the ball to the basket, getting two layups and a dunk.

After Scott hit two free throws to bring Loyola to within five at 47-42. The Riverhawks went back to work. Three quick points by Obadiah Noel (16 points, nine rebounds) got the lead back to eight at 50-42. Loyola would get the deficit down to four, on a three-point play from Andrew Kostecka (19 points). UMass Lowell returned to a double-digit advantage on a Lutete fast break lay-in to make it 58-48 with 14:27 to play.

As the second half progressed, so did the Riverhawks lead. An Alex Rivers free throw (13 points) expanded the lead to fifteen at 67-52. A Ryan Jones three-pointer (13 points) gave UMass Lowell an eighteen point cushion at 81-63 with five minutes to go.

UMass Lowell did not take the foot off the gas pedal taking the lead to twenty on a Lutete lay up 83-63 with four minutes left in the game. When Josh Gantz dropped a three (10 points) with a minute left, the Riverhawks had their biggest lead of the night at 97-76.

After the game, senior Ryan Jones said was “happy the team kept the foot on the pedal”. His coach thought Jones played with great energy. Lutete chimed in with “the one game at a time” quote. But he also believes this team will play with confidence once the league season gets underway.

But before that, there is one last rehearsal before the conference schedule begins. They have a trip to play Sacred Heart next Saturday. This is an important game for UMass Lowell as they are yet to win on the road this year (0-7).

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