Box Score FAIRFIELD, Conn. – An Evan Kelley running three point jumper at the buzzer would not fall, as the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team fell in its home opener to UMass Lowell, 57-54, at the William H. Pitt Center on Thursday night. The loss drops the Pioneers to 1-1 on the year, while the River Hawks pick up their first win to improve to 1-2.
Trailing by four with just under a minute to play, Kelley made two free throws to cut the deficit to two for the first time since 17:20 remaining in the second half. On the ensuing River Hawk possession, the Pioneers forced a shot clock violation, one of just six turnovers for UMass Lowell on the night. The River Hawks responded by coming up with a steal with seven seconds remaining to send Chad Holley to the line with a chance to push the lead to four points. After making the first free throw, he would miss the second to set up the potential game-tying basket.
After shooting 58.8 percent in their season opening victory, the Pioneers could not overcome a 35.3 percent shooting night. Kelley was the only Pioneer to score in double figures as he finished with ten points. Steve Glowiak added nine, while De'von Barnett and Phil Gaetano each chipped in with eight. Cane Broome scored eight points to go along with five assists in his first ever game on Dave Bike Court. Jahad Thomas scored a game-high 17 points and Kerry Weldon recorded a double double with 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead the River Hawks.
UMass Lowell stretched their lead to a game-high 12 points after a three point basket by Thomas with 12:26 left in the game. SHU would respond by going on an 11-2 run, sparked by a Glowiak three-pointer and a Broome steal and transition layup, to cut the lead to 50-47 with 6:01 remaining after a Filip Nowicki layup. Two straight UMass Lowell baskets pushed the lead back to seven with 4:17 on the clock before Glowiak and Kelley made back to back baskets to trim the deficit back to three with 2:56 left.
Kelley scored his first basket of the game by opening the second half with a three-point play. The free throw with 17:20 remaining cut the River Hawk lead to just one, which would be as close as SHU would get.
SHU's defense held UMass Lowell to 38.1 percent shooting from the floor, including 6-23 from three point land. Sacred Heart also held an edge in free throws, 14-3, and outrebounded the River Hawks 42-36.
The Pioneers jumped to an early 7-2 lead 1:39 into the game. After a Getano three-pointer, Nowicki made a layup and then his blocked sparked a transition layup by Broome.
The River Hawks answered by going on a 16-3 run, sparked by four three pointers, including two from Tyler Livingston, to take an 18-10 lead with 13:38 left in the half. UMass Lowell would only make two more from beyond the arch the remainder of the contest.
Trailing 24-16 9:03 from the half, the Pioneers went on a 7-2 flurry, capped by a Glowiak trifecta to get a Sacred Heart within three points with 5:54 remaining. Barnett beat the halftime buzzer with a layup after gathering his own rebound to cut the deficit to 31-27 going into the break.
SHU will travel to Ohio State for a matchup with the 20th ranked Buckeyes on Sunday at 7 pm. In addition to having radio coverage on the SHU Sports Network, the game will also be televised on the Big Ten Network
