HUGGINS' 28 NOT ENOUGH IN MEN'S BASKETBALL SETBACK AT UMASS LOWELL
LOWELL, MA (Jan. 28, 2006) – Despite 28 points
from American International College's John Huggins
(Philadelphia, Pa.), UMass Lowell defeated AIC 65-58,
Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference men’s
basketball clash at Costello Gym.
Huggins led all scorers with 28 points – including 20 in the first half – as he shot 10 for 17 from the floor and 6 for 7 from 3-point range. He also grabbed six rebounds and played all 40 minutes.
The victory was the fourth win in the last five games for the River Hawks, who improved to 16-5 overall and 11-4 in the Conference. AIC slipped to 9-11 overall and 5-10 in the NE-10. Both teams are in action Wednesday as UML visits Bryant and AIC hosts Southern New Hampshire at 7:30.
In a tale of two halves, AIC shot a collective .667 in the first half (12 for 18) while UML shot .407 (11 for 27). However, UML shot .700 in the second stanza (14 for 20) while the Yellow Jackets struggled to a .261 clip (6 for 23).
The River Hawks also had their way in the paint, outscoring AIC, 26-12. Both teams shot well from long range – the Yellow Jackets 8 for 15 and UML 7 for 16 – while AIC outscored UML at the free throw line 14-8.
Arnette converted 9 of 15 shots from the floor while senior F Stacey Moragne (Evanston, IL), enduring triple team defenses, added 11 points and five rebounds. Senior G Carl Benn (Far Rockaway, NY) chipped in nine points and four assists.
Trailing 56-51 with 5:42 left in the game, UML outscored the Yellow Jackets 14-1 over the remainder of the game. Freshman G Brandon Shelton (Cambridge, MA) converted consecutive 3-point shots and Arnette added a jumper and a pair of free throws to lead the surge.
AIC led at the break 32-28. UML scored the first four points of the second half to knot the score 32-32, but the Yellow Jackets went on a 15-5 spurt to snatch a 47-37 lead with 12:33 remaining. UML chipped the lead to two points (51-49) on a layup by sophomore F Peter Monfort (Brockton, MA), but Huggins hit a trey and freshman G Vernon Dupree (Wilmington, DE) added a free throw to put the Yellow Jackets ahead, 55-49.
In the first half, UML raced out to a 19-7 lead
but AIC countered with a 23-7 run to grab a 30-26 edge with 1:15
left in the half. Huggins scored 16 points in the run.