Binghamton, With Four Players in Double Figures, Defeat Lowell 68-63

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The UMass Lowell River Hawks (8-5, 0-1) started the America East conference schedule on the road on Sunday afternoon in Binghamton (4-6, 1-0). They were facing a Bearcats basketball team that was looking for their first division one win of the season. For the River Hawks, the task of getting off to a good start in league play would be made more difficult without two key members of the team. The Bearcats shot the ball well placing three of their five starters in double figures to get a 68-63 win at home over the River Hawks.

The River Hawks were playing for the first time since their win over Sacred Heart on December 19. Add to that, two members, Connor Withers who was left back in Lowell, and Darion Jordan-Thomas, still wearing a boot on his foot, were not available to the team. Binghamton was also missing key contributors to the team as guard John Mcgriff and forward George Tinsley did not play. The Bearcats were also coming back from a long layoff and they had not played a game since a win over Oneonta on December 11. This was a game that featured 13 lead changes and four ties with one team’s starting five better than the other.

UMass Lowell starters would get outscored by the Bearcats starters 51-36. Two of the River Hawks starting five did not score. Justin Faison (0-8 from the field, 0-6 from 3-point land) and Max Brooks in foul trouble the entire game, did not register a point for the visitors. Their offense was mainly from three-point land and it was not good. For the game, the River Hawks would shoot 28% (7-25) from deep and from the field 25-for 68 (36.8%). Their lack of aggression would show up in the lack of free throws attempts for the game (6-10, 60%). They did get nice games from the starting guard Kail Thomas (21 points on 8-14 shooting 5-7 from behind the arc), and off the bench from Ayinde Hikm with 13 points. The River Hawks last lead of the game was with 2:49 left in the first half on two free throws by Allin Blunt that made the score 28-26 Lowell. From there it was all Binghamton.

The Bearcats were much more aggressive on the offensive end. They shot 44% from the field for the game (20-45) and their willingness to take the ball to the basket led them to the free-throw line a bunch of times (20-25, 80%). It is how Brooks got himself in foul trouble as quickly as he did. The Bearcats had a size advantage in the backcourt and made good use of it. By taking the ball to the hoop the way they did it also opened up the outside shooting game for them. Tyler Bertram and Justin Falko had 20 points apiece. Bertram (7-9 from the field, 4-5 from three), Falko (5-11 from the field, 9-10 from the foul line), were too much for the River Hawks. Without Brooks in the middle, Christen Hinckson had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. Kellen Amos contributed 12 points of his own. It was a good Sunday afternoon before a home crowd of 1,202.

Both teams will hope to play on Thursday night. The River Hawks will open up the home portion of their schedule with a game vs NJIT. Binghamton will head to Albany.