River Hawks Rise: UMass Lowell Rallies to Stun Sacred Heart

Read Time:3 Minute, 8 Second

LOWELL, MA — In a game defined by grit and efficient ball movement, the UMass Lowell River Hawks (5-8) secured a hard-fought 87-82 victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers (4-7) on Tuesday night at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex.

The win was a milestone for the River Hawks, marking their first halftime comeback of the season and snapping a streak for the Pioneers, who entered the night undefeated when leading at the break.

By The Numbers: Dominating the Details

The River Hawks’ success was built on a foundation of fundamental basketball. Head Coach Pat Duquette praised his team’s unselfishness after they recorded 21 assists on 33 made baskets.

Glass Attack: UML dominated the boards with a 41-36 overall advantage, but the real story was the offensive glass, where the River Hawks held a crushing 16-7 edge.
Ball Security: The home team played clean basketball, committing only nine turnovers compared to 14 for Sacred Heart. UML capitalized on those mistakes, turning them into 18 points.
Interior Power: The River Hawks owned the paint, outscoring the Pioneers 40-20 around the rim.

Star Performances

The River Hawks’ “Big Three” delivered when it mattered most, combining for 58 of the team’s 87 points.

Austin Green (Forward): The senior was the engine of the offense, posting a massive double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds. This was his fifth double-double of the year and his second against Division I competition.
Xavier Spencer (Guard): Spencer notched his first 20-point game of the season, shooting a blistering 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. It was his fourth consecutive game in double figures.
Daniel Yepdo (Guard): Yepdo provided the backcourt spark with 16 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals, including several clutch three-pointers in the second half to keep the Pioneers at bay.

“We have been playing better basketball the last three or four weeks,” Coach Duquette said following the win. “On [Tuesday] night, not only did they play better, they finished the job.”

Game Flow: A Battle of Inches

The contest was remarkably even, featuring seven ties and seven lead changes. Remarkably, the total time each team spent with the lead was separated by only four seconds (UML 18:19; SH 18:15).

First Half: Pioneers Punch First

Sacred Heart found success early through Nyle Ralph-Beyer, who exploded for 17 of his 26 points in the first half. A late 5-0 run fueled by a three-pointer from Conner and a jumper by Ralph-Beyer sent the Pioneers into the locker room with a 44-38 halftime lead.

Second Half: The River Hawk Response

UMass Lowell opened the second half with what Daniel Yepdo called their “best second half of the season.”

8-0 Opening Run: UML stormed out of the gates to take a 46-44 lead just two minutes in.
The Turning Point: A layup by Green off a second-chance opportunity gave UML a 57-56 lead with 13:17 remaining—a lead they would never relinquish.

Despite a late 9-2 run by the Pioneers to cut the deficit to 70-69 with four minutes left, the River Hawks remained composed to seal the five-point victory.

Note & What’s Next

Consistent Pioneers: Sacred Heart senior guard Dashon Grittens continued his streak, scoring 10 points to remain in double figures for every game this season.
Series History: Sacred Heart still leads the all-time series 28-24, though UML improved to 1-2 against MAAC opponents this year.
Bench Spark: Jared Frey and Victor Okojie provided critical relief, combining for 16 of the team’s 20 bench points.

Up Next: