LOWELL, MA (Dec. 6, 2007) – Senior Dashon Harper (Columbus, OH) scored 20 points and sophomore F Victor Colon (Chicago, IL) added 19 as UMass Lowell defeated Southern Connecticut, 81-78, Thursday night in a Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball tilt at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the win, UML improved to 2-4 overall and 2-4 in the NE-10 entering Saturday’s non-conference home clash against Dominican (3:00). Southern Connecticut slipped to 1-5 overall and 0-5 in the Conference and visits American International Saturday (3:30).

Harper converted 4 of 7 attempts from 3-point range and dished out four assists while Colon scored 16 of his points in the second half and overtime, and also handed out four assists.

Sophomore G Craig Heatherly (Mishawaka, IN) scored a season-high 11 points, including a pair of key free throws in overtime, while senior F Mike Gore (Wilmington, MA) matched his career-high with 10 points, hitting 4 of 5 field goal attempts.

Senior F Ktrice McNeil (Bronx, NY) paced the Owls with 20 points on 8-14 field goal shooting while junior G Justin Gardenhire (Rosedale, NY) added 14 points and five assists. Sophomore G Trevor Harris (Nanuet, NY) chipped in 11 points, dealt eight assists and grabbed six rebounds and junior G Derrick Corbett (New Haven, CT) had 10 points.

The River Hawks forced 25 turnovers by the Owls while committing 19, which partially compensated for SCSU’s 51-32 rebound advantage (21-11 on the offensive glass).

UML also outscored the Owls from 3-point range, 27-12.

UML had a 61-56 lead with 3:56 left to play when Harper converted the second of two free throws, but the Owls countered with a dunk by McNeil and a jumper by Gardenhire to cut the lead to 61-60 with 2:27 left.

Heatherly gave UML a 62-60 edge with the first of two free throws, but SCSU took a 64-62 lead on a layup by Harris and two free throws by senior F Devon Sullivan (Jamaica, NY) with 48 seconds left.

Colon tied the game on a jump hook with 19 seconds left and, following a missed jumper by Gardenhire, a last gasp jumper by senior G Jamael Lynch (Brooklyn, NY) was off the mark.

The River Hawks raced out to an eight-point lead (75-67) with 2:16 left in overtime, led by a trey and two free throws by Heatherly. But the Owls used an 8-3 spurt to cut the lead to 78-75 with 1:11 remaining behind free throws and a jumper by Gardnehire.

Two free throws by sophomore G Kevin Carr (Lancaster, OH) gave UML an 80-75 cushion with 1:03 left, but a free throw by Gardenhire and a layup by Corbett cut the lead to 80-78 with 44 seconds left.

Colon hit the first of two free throws and the Owls misfired on three attempts before time expired.