WORCESTER, MA (Mar. 3, 2008) – Junior F Patrick Shea scored 15 points and dished six assists as No. 11 Assumption College defeated No. 11 UMass Lowell, 69-54, Monday night in the Northeast-10 Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament at Laska Gymnasium.

With the loss, UML wrapped its season with a 12-17 record. Assumption improved to 21-9 and will visit No. 2 Saint Rose (22-6) Thursday at 7:00. Saint Rose was a 64-61 winner over No. 7 Bryant in Albany, NY.

Senior G Dashon Harper (Columbus, OH) led the River Hawks with 19 points and five assists while senior G Jamael Lynch (Brooklyn, NY) added 15 points (6-11 field goals). Senior F Mike Gore (Wilmington, MA) chipped in 10 points.

Shea converted 5 of 10 field goals and led four Greyhounds who scored in double digits. Senior F Mike Foti added 12 points and six rebounds while sophomore G Courtland Bluford had 11 points.

Senior F Corey Diethorn chipped in 10 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots.

UML struggled from the field in the first half, shooting .296 (8-27) while the Greyhounds fared better (.407, 11-27). Both teams shot well in the second half, UML .520 (13-25) and Assumption .522 (12-23).

Assumption forced 18 turnovers from UML while committing 15, but benefited as it outscored UML off turnovers, 22-13.

The Greyhounds led 31-20 at the break and opened the second half with a 16-2 run to post a 47-22 cushion with 13:37 left to play.

Trailing 62-35 with 5:47 remaining, the River Hawks did muster a late 10-2 run, led by six points from Harper, to cut the deficit to 64-46 with 2:38 left, although too late.