UMass Lowell Takes Care of Business with 78-56 Win Over New Hampshire

Read Time:2 Minute, 6 Second

If this were a boxing match, the referees might have stepped in early. The UMass Lowell River Hawks (12–15, 7–5 AE) secured their second consecutive home victory on Thursday night, dismantling the UNH Wildcats 78–56 at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex.

Leading the charge was Angel Montas Jr., who posted his second conference double-double of the year with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. Behind his dominant performance, the River Hawks outscored the Wildcats 50–30 in the paint and converted 10 UNH turnovers into 17 points.

Game Recap: Wire-to-Wire Authority

The Wildcats held brief leads in the opening minutes, but once UMass Lowell found their rhythm, the game was never in doubt.

The First Half: After a Montas Jr. three-pointer put the River Hawks up 10–7 with 15:38 remaining, UML never trailed again. Darrel Yepdo extended the lead to double digits (24–14) with a triple at the 9:33 mark, and the River Hawks went into the locker room with a comfortable 42–28 cushion.
The Second Half: UNH made a small push early in the second frame, cutting the deficit to nine points following a Tyler Bike three-pointer. However, UML responded with a clinical 12–0 run to shut the door.
Closing it Out: The lead eventually swelled to 26 points. While Belal El Shakery led UNH with 16 points, it wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding as the Wildcats (8–17, 4–8 AE) fell to their fifth straight loss.

Key Performance Stats

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists
Angel Montas Jr.	25	10	0
Xavier Spencer	17	6	3
Darrel Yepdo	12	1	4
Austin Green	7	12	0

Post-Game Perspective: “Jelling at the Right Time”

Head coach Pat Duquette didn’t mince words regarding the team’s evolution. “We are playing our best basketball at the right time,” Duquette said, noting that while the team struggled in November, the health of Montas Jr. and the improved shooting of Xavier Spencer have changed the trajectory of the season.

Xavier Spencer spoke about the group “starting to jell” and finding joy in the game, while Montas Jr. credited the coaching staff for pushing them daily. When asked how he’d like to finish this three-game homestand on Saturday, Montas Jr. had a simple answer: “With a win.”