The UMass Lowell River Hawks secured a convincing 88-69 win over the Bryant Bulldogs, with Angel Montas Jr. leading the charge with 24 points and 8 rebounds. This dominant performance saw UMass Lowell outscore Bryant by 15 points in the second half, 46-31, to seal the 19-point victory. The River Hawks' record now stands at 11-15, while the Bulldogs drop to 8-17. UMass Lowell's NET ranking of 328 will likely see a slight improvement after this Q4 win.
Angel Montas Jr. Scores 24 Points, Marks 5th 20-Point Game of the Season
The UMass Lowell River Hawks took control of the game from the outset, leading 42-38 at halftime. They then extended their lead in the second half, outscoring the Bryant Bulldogs 46-31 to secure the 88-69 victory. The River Hawks' Angel Montas Jr. and Darrel Yepdo combined for 46 points, while Xavier Spencer added 22 points to the tally. Bryant's Keegan Harvey put up a valiant effort with 28 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the River Hawks' balanced attack. UMass Lowell's 88 points marked their highest total in the last 5 games, with an average of 74.2 points per game during that stretch.
The top performers for both teams were evident, with Angel Montas Jr. and Keegan Harvey standing out. Montas Jr. led the UMass Lowell River Hawks with 24 points and 8 rebounds, while Harvey paced the Bryant Bulldogs with 28 points and 10 rebounds. UMass Lowell's Xavier Spencer and Darrel Yepdo also made significant contributions, scoring 22 points each. For Bryant, Timofei Rudovskii added 11 points, and Khalil Williams chipped in with 10 points and 6 assists. The River Hawks' trio of Montas Jr., Spencer, and Yepdo combined for 68 points, accounting for 77% of their team's total.
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Final
A closer look at the box score reveals some key statistics that contributed to UMass Lowell's victory. The River Hawks outrebounded the Bulldogs 38-32, with Montas Jr. and Yepdo grabbing 8 and 5 rebounds, respectively. UMass Lowell also shot 51.7% from the field, compared to Bryant's 41.9%. The River Hawks' 46 points in the second half marked their highest total in a half this season, with an average of 35.5 points per half. Additionally, UMass Lowell's 19-point margin of victory was their largest since a 20-point win over a non-conference opponent earlier in the season.
The CHD Scout prediction model correctly forecasted a UMass Lowell victory, albeit with a predicted margin of 6 points. The actual margin of 19 points exceeded expectations, highlighting the River Hawks' dominant performance. The model's accuracy in predicting the winner demonstrates its reliability, but the discrepancy in the predicted margin suggests room for improvement. UMass Lowell's 88 points were 14 more than the predicted total, while Bryant's 69 points were 1 point more than expected.
This Q4 win for UMass Lowell will have a positive impact on their resume, as they look to improve their NET ranking of 328. The River Hawks' record now stands at 11-15, with a 4-8 record in Q1 and Q2 games. Bryant, on the other hand, drops to 8-17, with a 2-10 record in Q1 and Q2 games. The Bulldogs' NET ranking of 348 will likely remain relatively unchanged after this Q4 loss. UMass Lowell's victory also marks their 3rd win in their last 5 games, with an average margin of victory of 12.3 points during that stretch.
The UMass Lowell River Hawks want to build on this momentum as they face their next opponent, while the Bryant Bulldogs will aim to bounce back from this loss. UMass Lowell's next game is scheduled for February 15th against a conference opponent, while Bryant's next game is set for February 17th against a non-conference foe. The River Hawks want to improve their 4-8 record in conference play, while the Bulldogs will aim to snap a 3-game losing streak.