Lowell, Mass. (January 26) -- No. 16 ranked Assumption rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit to cut the lead down to four with five minutes left before falling by an 86-77 final at UMass Lowell on Saturday afternoon at Costello Gym. Assumption climbed seven spots to No. 16 in this week's NABC/Division II National Poll.

Assumption opened up a 15-13 lead in the opening six minutes following a free throw from senior Ronson Quick (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee). The River Hawks answered with a 7-0 run though to seize the lead at 20-15 and continued to lead 20-19 with 9:21 left in the first half. UMass Lowell put together a 10-0 run over the next 3:45 and pushed the lead into double figures at 30-19.

The River Hawks led by as many as 17 points in the period following a dunk by Antonio Bivins in the final minutes of the half before taking a 43-29 lead into the break. Assumption cut the lead down to 14 at the buzzer as Quick drained a deep three to close out the half. Senior Tim Beinert (Bellerose Village, N.Y./Holy Cross) led the Hounds with 10 points in the half, while Akeem Williams paced UMass Lowell with a 14-point period as the River Hawks shot 64.3 percent from the field.

Assumption came out strong in the second half and with 16:46 left, the Hounds cut the lead down to 44-38 following a layup from freshman Tim Kasper (Cologne, Germany/Gymnasium Schloss Hagerhof). UMass Lowell answered to push the lead back to double figures before Assumption came roaring back to within four. The Hounds got within four twice, including at 67-63 following a pair of free throws from graduate student Kevin Donahue (Pawcatuck, Conn./Stonington) with 4:46 remaining. A three-pointer from Chad Holley, followed by a Holley layup a minute later, increased the River Hawk lead back to nine at 72-63 with 3:24 remaining. Assumption continued to push, but never got closer than eight the rest of the way as the River Hawks took the nine-point victory.

Donahue led the Hounds with 24 points, along with 21 from Beinert and a career-high 19 points from Kasper. Senior guard Ryan Rozsnaki (Montreal, Quebec/Landstown) nearly posted a double-double with 10 rebounds and nine assists. Assumption outrebounded the River Hawks by a 30-29 margin and hit 27-of-35 free throw attempts. UMass Lowell forced 21 Assumption turnovers though and outscored the Hounds by a 23-0 margin from the bench.

Williams led the River Hawks with 24 points as five UMass Lowell players, including four starters, finished in double figures.

With the loss, Assumption has now lost two straight and falls to 13-4 overall and 10-3 in Northeast-10 play. UMass Lowell has now won two straight and improves to 12-5 overall and 8-5 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on Tuesday, January 29th as the Hounds travel to Saint Michael's College for a 7:30 p.m. start at the Ross Sports Center.

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