WORCESTER, MA (Jan. 2, 2008) – Senior F Corey Diethorn scored 28 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Assumption College defeated UMass Lowell, 71-59, Wednesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball tilt at Laska Gymnasium.

The loss was the third straight for the River Hawks, who slipped to 4-7 overall and 2-5 in the NE-10 entering next Tuesday’s home clash against Merrimack (7:30). Assumption improved to 11-3 overall and 5-2 in the Conference.

Sophomore F Victor Colon (Chicago, IL) led the River Hawks with 17 points – all in the second half – as he converted 5 of 8 field goal attempts and all seven free throws. Sophomore C Ali Kanaan (Montreal, QUE) added 12 points (5-6 field goal shooting), five rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots.

Diethorn shot 10 for 17 from the field while junior F Patrick Shea chipped in 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The Greyhounds forced 23 turnovers out of UML and committed only 13, outscoring the River Hawks 27-10 off miscues. Assumption also grabbed 16 offensive rebounds (opposed to UML’s seven) and outscored UML 15-8 on second chances.

Assumption also enjoyed a 16-9 edge at the free throw line, somewhat offsetting UML’s 24-15 advantage from beyond the 3-point arc.

Assumption led 30-27 at the break and opened the second half with a 13-3 run to grab a 44-30 cushion with 13:22 left in the game. Diethorn led the run with 12 points.

The Greyhounds led 60-47 with 6:37 left when UML cut the lead to seven (62-55) with an 8-2 run with 2:50 remaining. Colon scored all eight points in the run, but the River Hawks could come no closer.