Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
Some notes and news related to the UMass Lowell men's basketball team that didn't fit into the latest game story.
BULL’S EYE: It is possible to be both the hunted and the hunter. At least if you’re the UMass Lowell men’s basketball team it‘s possible.
On Wednesday, they River Hawks will go to Waltham and play the role of challenger against defending Northeast-10 Conference champion Bentley. UML head coach Greg Herenda said his team will play like they’ve got nothing to lose.
Yesterday, Southern New Hampshire played the role of hunter, and the Penmen almost came up with a very large catch.
“They brought the energy tonight,” UML junior guard Kevin Carr said. “They brought the game to us, and we had to respond. It took us to the second half to actually respond. They jumped us early, and yeah, we were a little hesitant. I can’t even say anything to it because we were.”
Carr, who finished with 20 points, said he thought part of it had to do with UMass Lowell getting to the point where teams always give the River Hawks their best shot.
Southern New Hampshire led by as much as 12 in the second half, threatening to hand the River Hawks their first home loss since November in front of a crowd that included many former UML players.
“When you start to win games, other teams are going to have a target on your back,” Carr said. “They wanted to beat us. They brought the game to us. I don’t know why, but when you win games that’s what happens. You get that target on your back. We’re embracing that now.”
THE RETURN OF THE CAPTAIN: Watertown’s Max Kerman returned to practice on Thursday after missing five games with an oblique injury, and returned to form as one of UML’s go-to guys on Saturday. He did all his scoring in the second half as the River Hawks made their comeback, and his four-point play gave UML the lead with under four minutes to play.
Kerman played just 18 minutes, but he was 3-of-3 from the field and 1-of-1 from the free throw line for eight points. He also dished out an assist and grabbed four rebounds.
Herenda joked earlier in the week to Kerman that the team had been playing so well that there might not be room for him. I think we can forget that.
For his part, Kerman said during the week that watching was tough but that he was glad to see that there was no drop-off with any of the guys off the UML bench.
BING BANG BOWEN: UML may have faced the deadliest shooter they’ll face all season in SNHU’s Troy Bowen. He blitzed the River Hawks for 20 of the 34 Penmen points in the first half.
Bowen finished with a game-high 27 points, and he shot 5-of-9 from behind the 3-point line. He didn’t just score from outside though. Bowen finished the game 11-for-21 and had six rebounds. Herenda pointed out that Bowen came off another tremendous game against Franklin Pierce just two days earlier when Bowen scored 22 points (8-of-14 shooting).
St. Anselm sharpshooter Pat Luptowski made 7-of-13 3-pointers in a win against UML earlier this season. He finished with 21 points in that outing, but did all his scoring from behind the three-point line and needed 13 3-point attempts.
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