UMass Lowell Makes it Four in a Row With 92-79 Win Over Binghamton

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On Saturday afternoon at the Kennedy Family Athletic Center, the UMass Lowell River Hawks (13–15, 8–5 AE) extended their winning streak to four games with a commanding 92–79 victory over the Binghamton Bearcats (6–23, 2–12 AE). The win secured a season sweep for the River Hawks and kept their momentum surging as the America East tournament approaches.

The offensive explosion was headlined by Angel Montas Jr., who tied his personal best with 30 points, marking his second 30-point performance of the season. He was joined in the spotlight by Austin Green, who dominated the interior with a double-double consisting of 20 points and 13 rebounds. In total, four River Hawks reached double figures, with Shawn Simmons II and Darrel Yepdo each chipping in 13 points.

By the Numbers: Efficiency and Ball Movement

For head coach Pat Duquette, the most encouraging statistic was the team’s unselfish play. The River Hawks recorded a season-high 22 assists on 32 made field goals while committing only five turnovers the entire afternoon.

Category	UMass Lowell	Binghamton
Points in the Paint	46	32
Second Chance Points	15	2
Points off Turnovers	10	11
Field Goal %	59%	63%
Assists	22	18

Game Summary

The first half featured a competitive track meet with 11 lead changes and 2 ties. Binghamton’s offense was remarkably efficient, shooting 50% from the floor and 60% from deep in the opening frame. However, UMass Lowell used a 12–0 run—fueled by baskets from Simmons II, Montas Jr., and a triple from Victor Okojie—to energize the sold-out crowd. Despite a late push by the Bearcats’ Wes Peterson (21 points) that cut the lead to one, the River Hawks entered the locker room with a 43–35 advantage.

In the second half, UMass Lowell never surrendered the lead. While the Bearcats attempted to stay within striking distance behind Zyier Beverly (19 points) and Jeremiah Quigley (14 points, 11 assists), the River Hawks’ “strength in numbers” proved too much. UML committed just a single turnover in the final 20 minutes, allowing them to maintain a double-digit cushion for the majority of the period and cruise to the 13-point victory.

Post-Game Perspective

Following the win, Shawn Simmons II noted that the game plan was to “wear down Binghamton” by utilizing their superior depth. Austin Green echoed that sentiment, emphasizing his focus on being more aggressive in the paint during the second half. Coach Duquette praised the Bearcats’ tenacity but noted that his squad is “connected on defense and sharing the ball on offense” at exactly the right time.

Looking Ahead: The Vermont Test

The road ahead gets significantly steeper for the River Hawks as they prepare for a high-stakes week:

Thursday, Feb 26: At Vermont (Patrick Gym, Burlington, VT)
Saturday, Feb 28: vs. UMBC (Kennedy Family Athletic Center)

The trip to Burlington will be the first for many of the current River Hawks, as they look to break the “house of horrors” spell at Patrick Gym against the perennial conference leaders.