UMass Lowell loses a heart breaker to UAlbany in OT, 90-88

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This game may end up being the most difficult one to swallow. The UMass Lowell River Hawks (15-10, 4-6) found a way to lose on their home court at Costello Athletic Center by a 90-88 score to the UAlbany Great Danes (13-13, 5-6) on Thursday night. The key stat in this one was turnovers and the River Hawks committed 17. Several came at the end of regulation and in overtime. Two missed front ends of one-ones in the extra sessions did not help the cause. Head coach Pat Duquette said it well after the game. “Tough loss on our home court, turnovers, and missed free throws.”

Scoring for either team was not an issue as the final score would indicate. Both teams had a hard time getting defensive stops too. UAlbany would end the game with six players in double-figures. Their bench was very efficient outshooting the River Hawks bench by a 33-14 margin. Three of the six players in double digits came off the Great Danes bench. Amir Lindsey (10 points), Justin Neely (10 points), and Kheni Briggs (13 points). Another key stat was fast break points. UAlbany had a 25-4 advantage over the River Hawks pushing the ball up the court with guard Byron Joshua (19 points). In 40:58 of game time, he was getting into the paint at will on UML. They could never find a way to slow him down.

For the River Hawks, their starting five did most of the damage. They scored 69 of the total points. Quinton Mincy played every minute of this one and led the team in scoring with 22 points and nine rebounds. Ten of his points came in the first half which saw UMl leave the court with a 42-40 lead. Max Brooks helped out with 20 points and nine boards. The backcourt duo of Martin Somerville (15 points) and Yuri Covington (12 points) also contributed.

Because this game was as tight as it was, the turnovers became a major reason why UAlbany won and UMass Lowell lost. The River Hawks starting five committed 15 of the 17 turnovers in this game. Mincy who played the entire game (45 minutes), committed five of those turnovers. Somerville was right behind him with four in 41 minutes. Heavy minutes by the starters may have contributed to the late-game mistakes that were made.

The game featured 16 ties and 19 lead changes. In the second half alone, it was 11 and 11 and in overtime, it was 2 apiece. Neither team could pull away from the other. A back-and-forth second half saw the Great Danes take a two-point lead on free throws by Joshua with 26 seconds left. UML called timeout with 21 seconds left. Mincy tied the game on a layup with 14 seconds. Joshua tried to win the game at the buzzer but the shot did not fall. Free basketball was now available to the crowd of 515 with the game tied at 80-80.

In overtime, the River Hawks built up a 6-point lead at 88-82 on a 6-0 run. A Somerville layup followed by two Brooks free throws and a Covington layup seemed to have UML in control. But UAlbany came right back and secured the next seven points. Briggs with two free throws, Joshua with a fast break layup, and Joshua with two more free throws tied the game at 88-88 with 42 seconds left. Somerville picked up his fourth foul with 23 seconds left sending Kacper Klaczek (12 points) to the line. He sank both free throws to give the Great Danes the lead at 90-88 with 23 seconds left. UAlbany had chances to extend the lead at the line but Joshua would miss four straight free throws to keep the River Hawks in the game. UMass Lowell called a timeout with 1.7 seconds left. They would get a half-court shot off before the buzzer sounded from Covington who’s heave went off the backboard and hit the front rim before falling to the floor.

The River Hawks have now lost two in a row and head to New Hampshire on Saturday to try and get a much-needed road win. UAlbany has the weekend off and they will host Maine next Thursday night.