River Hawks Drop 72-62 Decision in Midweek Tilt at Boston University

Read Time:2 Minute, 23 Second

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Everette Hammond (Silver Spring, Md.) and junior Kalil Thomas (New Orleans, La.) each dropped in 16 points in a 72-62 setback for the UMass Lowell River Hawks men’s basketball team (6-4) at Patriot League favorite Boston University (8-3) on Wednesday.

The River Hawks made it a one-point game early in the second half, but the Terriers pulled away down the stretch.

“BU is a really good team,” said Head Coach Pat Duquette. “They’ve beat some good teams and they’re picked to win the Patriot League. They’re well-coached, and we’ve played them every year. It’s been a great rivalry and they got the best of us tonight. We let them bring it to us, especially early. I thought the second half was different. We were more physical and more alert, got out and defended, and made a good run. Other than that, I just didn’t think we were ourselves.”

Hammond went a perfect, 6-for-6 from the line in the outing, while Thomas sunk four of his five field goals from beyond the arc. Graduate student Justin Faison (Prince George’s County, Md.) added 11 points and five assists. As a team, the River Hawks forced 17 BU turnovers.

Faison hit from deep for the first points of the night, and although the board was even twice in the opening minutes, the Terriers were able to build an 11-5 lead with 12:45 remaining in the first half.

Sophomore Ayinde Hikim (Washington, D.C.) tallied the next four points for the visitors before Faison drained another three-ball that put the River Hawks within one, but BU answered with 12 of the next 14 to pull away, 25-14, at 5:39. Hammond would then go on to register the last eight points for UMass Lowell in the period, sending the team into the locker room facing a 34-22 margin.

The River Hawks got off to a hot start in the second, capping off a quick, 14-4 run with an and-1 by sophomore Max Brooks (Waldorf, Md.) to cut the difference to 38-36 with 16 minutes left to play.

The home team held onto at least a two-point edge until Thomas knocked down a three from the far corner, putting his squad within one, 40-39, at 15:00. However, the River Hawks would not come any closer, as the Terriers responded with a 13-3 spurt to regain a double-digit buffer, 56-44, with just over nine minutes left on the clock.

Thomas would later sink a floater and another three to close the gap to 62-56 inside of the final six minutes, but BU converted at the line to seal the outcome.

The River Hawks will host MCLA on Saturday, December 11 at 1 p.m. before breaking for finals.