UMass Lowell Back in the Win Column, 81-75 Over UMBC

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On Wednesday night, the #25 in the collegeinsider.com Top-25 UMass Lowell River Hawks (16-4, 4-2) began what was going to be a week that could define whether or not this team is a contender or not. The good news for them is the fact that both games are at home, where they are unbeaten so far this season. They faced a University of Maryland-Baltimore County (13-7, 3-2). A team that arrived in Lowell on a four-game winning streak. Two good basketball teams looking to prove a point not only to each other but to the rest of the league as well.

In a game that had seven ties and ten lead changes, it would be the River Hawks that would make the point on this night. They had four players in double-figures led by the frontcourt duo of Max Brooks (20 points, six rebounds) and Abdoul Karim Coulibaly who picked up his sixth double-double of the season (24 points, 11 rebounds). Lowell would erase a two-point halftime deficit and defeat the Retrievers 81-75 before a good size crowd at Costello Athletic Center

The River Hawks have had some success of late vs UMBC as they have won four of the last five meetings and three straight. The Retrievers, on the other hand, have been good on the road with a .500 record of 4-4, having won four of their last five road games. UMBC likes to shoot the 3’s while the River Hawks like to pound the ball inside. The team that got its way had a real advantage in this one.

In the first half, neither team had much of an advantage because both offenses were good. The River Hawks established themselves with Coulibaly on the low blocks scoring 16 of the team’s 40 first-half points. He was getting position down low and attacking the rim before UMBC could stop him with a double-team. Coulibaly was 8-of-11 in the first half, and when his shot was not there, the ball would get kicked out to either Allin Blunt (14 points) or Everette Hammond (10 points) who were a combined 4-for-6 from deep in the first half. Each finished the first twenty minutes with eight points apiece. UMBC shot 62% in the first half, but not the way you might think. They too scored on the low blocks, using ball screens to give themselves height mismatches that led to easy baskets. Jarvis Doles (17 points ) was one of the benefactors of this approach scoring 11 of his points in the first half mostly from close. 6-7 Yaw Obeng-Mensah’s third double-double of 24 points, and 11 rebounds also factored in on the inside scoring with six. Both teams were getting great production in the paint. The River Hawks, with 22 points, and UMBC with 20. Strong guard play from both sides was the reason. The Retrievers only turned the ball over six times in the half, and Lowell only four.

When leading at the half, the Retrievers were 8-0, and when Lowell trailed at the half they were 2-2. A big second half was on the way for both teams, with first place on the line for both. The River Hawks received a big second twenty from Brooks who scored 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting with five of his baskets being dunks. The UMBC frontcourt had no answer for him. He also had six rebounds in the half. UMass Lowell took their biggest lead of the game with 8:44 left at 68-54 on a second-chance dunk by Brooks. UMBC then went on a 7-0 run to trim the lead to 70-61 with 6:56 left to play. Lowell answered with a 5-0 run on baskets by Yuri Covington and Coulibaly to make it a 75-61 game with 5:12 remaining. The Retrievers then went on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to five at 75-71 with 2:20 left. Matteo Picarelli (12 points) had four in the run. The River Hawks closed it out by outscoring UMBC 6-4 to win 81-75.

Afterward, Coach Duquette said, “real pleased with the win” and added, “this was a game played by two real good teams.” Both Brooks and Coulibaly said, “they felt once the ball was thrown into the paint the big men from the Retrievers had a hard time guarding us.” Lowell finished the game with 50 paint points. Both teams shot at over 50% for the game, Lowell at 50.7%, and UMBC at 51.7%. The difference might have been from 3-point land where the River Hawks shot 9-of-26. 34.6%, and UMBC shot 4-of-17, 23.5%. Both teams are back in action this weekend, both at home. UMass Lowell to host Bryant College, UMBC welcomes UNH.