LOWELL, Mass. – Redshirt sophomore forward Belal El Shakery recorded 16 points and eight rebounds but the University of New Hampshire men’s basketball team was defeated 78-56 by UMass Lowell at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex on Thursday night.

Sophomore forward John Squire pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and scored seven points.

UMass Lowell, which led 40-23 late in the first half to take control, was led by Angel Montas, Jr. (25 points), Xavier Spencer (17) and Darrel Yepdo (12). Austin Green had a game-high 12 rebounds and Montas, Jr. had 10.

UNH moves to 8-17 overall and 4-8 in America East while UML is now 12-15, 7-5.

UNH returns to action Saturday(4 p.m.) against Maine for a Buffalo Wild Wings Border Battle at Lundholm Gym.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

UMASS LOWELL 57, UNH 54

Junior guard Eva DeChent (Westchester, N.Y.) scored a game-high 29 points but the University of New Hampshire women’s basketball team was edged by UMass Lowell at Lundholm Gym.

DeChent’s other statistics included five rebounds, four steals, two blocks and two assists. She played the full 40 minutes.

Senior forward Lucia Melero Sabat finished with 10 points and team-high six rebounds. Junior guard Maggie Cavanaugh had nine points, six rebounds and team-high four assists.

UMass Lowell was led by Paris Gilmore (24 points).Lavoie’s driving layup lifted the ‘Cats within a point, 55-54, with 52 seconds on the clock.

UNH missed two go-ahead field goal attempts, then Jaini Edwards made two free throws with two seconds remaining to extend the margin to 57-54.

The Wildcats called timeout to advance the ball and a potential game-tying 3-pointer went off the rim at the buzzer.

UNH and UML, who split the season series, have identical records of 8-18 overall and 2-11 in America East.

UNH returns to action Feb. 21 (1pm) for a Buffalo Wild Wings Border Battle at Maine.