LOWELL, MA (Feb. 26, 2008) – Senior G Steve Dagostino (Schenectady, NY) scored 16 points and hit a 3-point shot with 0.4 seconds left to lead the College of Saint Rose over UMass Lowell, 61-60, Tuesday night in the Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball regular season finale at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the loss, UML slipped to 11-16 overall and 8-14 in the NE-10 and sealed the No. 11 seed in the upcoming NE-10 Tournament Saturday at an opponent to be announced Wednesday morning.

The win was the third straight for the Golden Knights, who improved to 21-6 overall and 18-4 to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Tournament. The win also marked the first time Saint Rose won in Lowell in nine games.

The loss spoiled a pair of stellar efforts for UML seniors Mike Gore (Wilmington, MA) and Dashon Harper (Columbus, OH). Gore scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed four rebounds while shooting 10 for 14 from the floor.

Harper added 19 points, five rebounds and four assists while converting 7 of 12 field goals and 3 of 6 attempts from 3-point range.

Dagostino also dished out eight assists and grabbed seven rebounds while senior F Shanty Robinson (Mount Vernon, NY) added 14 points (5-7 field goal shooting) and seven rebounds. Senior G Will Monica (Great Falls, VA) chipped in 11 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Following a missed 3-point attempt by sophomore G Jermaine Clark (Perth Amboy, NJ), a missed jumper by sophomore F Malcolm Williams (Schenectady, NY) and a missed trey by Monica, Gore snagged the rebound and was immediately fouled with 7.7 second left.

After a 30 second and full timeout called by the Golden Knights, Gore’s free throw rattled in and out of the cylinder and was rebounded by Dagostino who immediately drove and pulled up from 25 feet and launched the game-winner with 0.4 seconds left.

The River Hawks were unable to get off a shot before time expired.

 UML shot .609 in the second half (14-23) opposed to .370 (10-27) by Saint Rose. The Golden Knights, however, posted a significant edge from 3-point range, outscoring UML 27-15 to negate the River Hawks overall marksmanship.

The game featured 11 lead changes.

Saint Rose led 45-40 with 9:49 left to play, but UML used a 10-3 spurt to snatch a 50-48 edge with 6:38 to play. Gore scored seven of his points in the run.

With the score knotted 55-55 with 2:56 left, sophomore G Kevin Carr (Lancaster, OH) and Saint Rose’s Clark traded 3-point shots. Gore converted a layup with 57 seconds left to give UML a 60-58 lead before Dagostino’s heroics.