SMITHFIELD, R.I. (Interstat) — Angel Montas scored 27 points to lead Massachusetts-Lowell to a 77-63 victory over Bryant in an America East Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Chace Athletic Center. The River Hawks (7-10) never trailed, building a 34-27 halftime lead and controlling the interior with 48 points in the paint. Montas was efficient throughout, part of a UMass-Lowell offense that shot 52.6% from the field. Aaron Davis led Bryant (5-11) with 21 points. The Bulldogs struggled offensively, shooting 40.7% overall and just 6 of 9 from the free-throw line. Despite a projected high probability to win, Bryant could not overcome UMass-Lowell’s consistent scoring, which included 20 fastbreak points.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (Interstat) — Angel Montas scored 27 points and Massachusetts-Lowell used a dominant first-half performance to cruise past Bryant 77-63 in an America East Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Chace Athletic Center. The River Hawks (7-10, 2-0) never trailed, building a double-digit lead less than eight minutes into the game and holding the Bulldogs (5-11, 1-1) at arm’s length the rest of the way. The victory defied the pregame projections, as national statistical models gave Bryant a 75.9% probability to win and the Bulldogs were installed as a 2.5-point favorite. The most important stretch of the game came early, as Massachusetts-Lowell established control with a combination of stifling defense and efficient interior scoring. After Darrel Yepdo opened the scoring with a 3-pointer just 50 seconds in, the River Hawks held Bryant without a field goal for the first 2:57. The Bulldogs struggled to find any offensive rhythm, missing their first five shots from the floor and committing two turnovers before Keegan Harvey’s dunk finally got them on the board. Massachusetts-Lowell responded with an 11-2 run, fueled by its work in the paint. A tip-in by Montas and a layup from Shawn Simmons pushed the lead to 13-4. The River Hawks’ defensive pressure continued to disrupt Bryant, which shot just 24 of 59 from the field for the game and committed nine turnovers. By the first media timeout with 15:09 remaining in the first half, the River Hawks led 13-4 and had set a tone that would last the entire night. The Bulldogs briefly threatened late in the first half, cutting a 15-point deficit to nine after a 3-pointer by Timofei Rudovskii made it 32-23 with 3:51 left. But the River Hawks closed the period on a critical 5-2 spurt. After a steal by Khalil Farmer led to a transition layup, Montas scored on a driving layup in the final second of the half, sending Massachusetts-Lowell into the break with a 34-27 advantage and momentum. Bryant never got closer than seven points in the second half. Every time the Bulldogs made a push, Montas or a teammate had an answer. When Aaron Davis hit a 3-pointer to pull Bryant within 44-37 with 14:00 to play, Montas answered with a layup on the next possession. Davis connected from deep again to make it 49-44, but Austin Green found Khalil Farmer for a driving layup to push the lead back to seven. The River Hawks put the game away with a decisive 12-2 run over a four-minute span midway through the second half. Montas ignited the surge with a 3-pointer, followed by a tip-in from Green. After a Bryant turnover, Montas scored again on a layup, and a jumper from the wing extended the River Hawks’ lead to 63-46 with 8:53 remaining, effectively sealing the outcome. Montas, a 6-foot-6 forward from Romana, Dominican Republic, was efficient in his 38 minutes, adding a block and a steal to his game-high point total. He was supported by a balanced attack as four other River Hawks scored in double figures. Austin Green of Sicklerville, New Jersey, scored 14 points and grabbed three offensive rebounds. Yepdo, from nearby Dracut, Massachusetts, scored 13 points and dished out three assists, while Simmons of Philadelphia added 10 points and a block. Bryant was led by Aaron Davis, who scored 21 points. The 6-foot-7 guard from Bay Shore, New York, was 5 of 13 from 3-point range. Rudovskii, a 6-foot-9 forward from Moscow, Russia, contributed 15 points, three assists and two blocks for the Bulldogs. Ashley Sims of Glen Burnie, Maryland, added 11 points, three assists and a block. The statistical story was told in the paint and in transition. Massachusetts-Lowell outscored Bryant 48-24 inside and held a 20-2 advantage in fast-break points. The River Hawks shot 52.6% from the field (30 of 57) and out-rebounded the Bulldogs 36-31. Despite both teams committing nine turnovers, Massachusetts-Lowell’s defense was more impactful, holding Bryant to an offensive rating of 96.5 points per 100 possessions while posting a 118.3 rating of its own. The announced attendance was 274. The total score of 140 points fell under the pregame over/under line of 146.5. Massachusetts-Lowell looks to continue its conference momentum when it travels to face Binghamton on Saturday. Bryant, which saw a two-game winning streak snapped, will head to Albany for its next contest, also on Saturday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Lowell on Feb. 12.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (Interstat) — Two America East men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Thursday when the Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks visit the Bryant Bulldogs. The conference matchup at Chace Athletic Center pits teams with nearly identical records. The River Hawks (6-10) enter after an 83-71 home win over Albany on Saturday. The Bulldogs (5-10) are also coming off a league victory, having edged Maine 56-51 on the road. Massachusetts-Lowell will lean on guard Xavier Spencer, who is coming off a standout performance. In the win against Albany, Spencer scored 23 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished five assists in 35 minutes. Over his last five games against Division I competition, he is averaging 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Bryant counters with forward Quincy Allen, who recorded a double-double in the win at Maine with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Allen has been a consistent interior presence, scoring in double figures in three of his last four full games, including a 14-point outing at High Point. The River Hawks’ victory over Albany showcased a balanced attack. Alongside Spencer, Angel Montas added 18 points and nine rebounds, while Austin Green contributed 16 points and eight rebounds. Bryant’s win at Maine was fueled by defense and rebounding, with Allen and Ashley Sims (12 points, 10 rebounds) controlling the glass. Both teams have faced challenging non-conference schedules. Massachusetts-Lowell’s losses include road games at Iowa, Boston University and Quinnipiac. Bryant’s defeats feature road contests at Virginia Tech, Connecticut and High Point. Historically, this is a new conference rivalry, with the teams set to meet again in Lowell on Feb. 12. The Bulldogs will look to protect their home court, while the River Hawks aim to build their first winning streak since late December. Following this game, Massachusetts-Lowell travels to face Binghamton on Saturday. Bryant will hit the road for a Saturday game at Albany.