UMass Lowell Edges Sacred Heart in Thrilling Finish
Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 6:00 PM ET · Kennedy Family Athletic Complex
UMass Lowell River Hawks 87, Sacred Heart Pioneers 82, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Sacred Heart Pioneers vs UMass Lowell River Hawks?
UMass Lowell River Hawks beat Sacred Heart Pioneers 87-82 at Kennedy Family Athletic Complex on December 16, 2025.
Who was favored in Sacred Heart Pioneers vs UMass Lowell River Hawks?
Sacred Heart Pioneers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -148 (about 60% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the UMass Lowell River Hawks triumphed over the Sacred Heart Pioneers with a final score of 87-82. This game, played at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex, showcased the competitive spirit of both teams, with UMass Lowell improving their record to 6-8 while Sacred Heart fell to 4-8.
The River Hawks entered the game with a home record of 5-8, having won three of their last ten games. Their recent form featured an average of 77.5 points scored per game while allowing 78.2 points. In their last outing prior to this game, UMass Lowell faced the Quinnipiac Bobcats and lost 71-75. However, they had previously shown strong offensive capabilities, notably scoring 122 points against the Fisher Eagles in a dominant home win. Their last five games indicated a slight improvement, with an average of 83.6 points scored and 71.8 points allowed.
On the other hand, Sacred Heart came into this game with a record of 4-7, having won four of their last ten games. Their scoring average stood at 77.2 points, while they allowed an average of 78.7 points per game. Their most recent game saw them secure a victory against the NJIT Highlanders, winning 65-49, which snapped a losing streak and provided a boost in confidence. In their last five games, Sacred Heart averaged 77.2 points scored but struggled defensively, allowing 81.6 points on average.
When comparing home and away performances, UMass Lowell had a home record of 2-1 in their last three home games, while Sacred Heart struggled with a 2-5 record in away games. This disparity added an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup, as UMass Lowell aimed to capitalize on their home-court advantage.
The game was characterized by a series of scoring plays that kept the fans on the edge of their seats. Key moments included Abdou Yadd's three-point jumper that brought Sacred Heart within four points late in the second half, and a crucial dunk by Victor Okojie that sealed the victory for the River Hawks. The final minutes were marked by free throws from Darrel Yepdo, which helped maintain UMass Lowell's lead.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but both teams were likely managing their rosters as they approached the midpoint of the season. The absence of key players can often influence the outcome of such tightly contested games.
As for the betting market, DraftKings had Sacred Heart favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 151.5. The odds indicated a competitive matchup, reflecting the expectations for a close game.
The conditions during the game were conducive to an exciting atmosphere, with both teams showcasing their offensive talents. Viewers were treated to a display of shooting skills, particularly from beyond the arc, as both teams made significant contributions from three-point range.
Overall, this fixture proved to be a thrilling encounter, highlighting the resilience of UMass Lowell as they secured a much-needed victory at home against Sacred Heart.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SHU -2.5 | 151.5 o -115 / u -105 | Sacred Heart Pioneers -148 · UMass Lowell River Hawks +124 |
Leaders
- PointsAustin Green22UMass Lowell River Hawks
- AssistsDarrel Yepdo5UMass Lowell River Hawks
- ReboundsAustin Green14UMass Lowell River Hawks
- PointsNyle Ralph-Beyer28Sacred Heart Pioneers
- AssistsMekhi Conner5Sacred Heart Pioneers
- ReboundsYann Farell8Sacred Heart Pioneers
Recent form
UMass Lowell River Hawks
Last 10: 3-7Streak L177.5 scored · 78.2 allowed per game2-1 at home
- L71-75at Quinnipiac BobcatsDec 13
- W122-73vs Fisher EaglesDec 10
- L60-80at Massachusetts MinutemenDec 6
- W90-67vs Emerson LionsNov 29
- W75-64at Stonehill SkyhawksNov 26
- L66-68at Saint Peter's PeacocksNov 22
- L77-87at Bradley BravesNov 20
- L75-109at Wake Forest Demon DeaconsNov 16
- L72-86at Columbia LionsNov 14
- L67-73vs New Haven ChargersNov 10
Sacred Heart Pioneers
Last 10: 4-6Streak W177.2 scored · 78.7 allowed per game2-5 away
- W65-49at NJIT HighlandersDec 13
- L69-81vs Iona GaelsDec 7
- W87-80at Mount St. Mary's MountaineersDec 4
- L59-90at Penn State Nittany LionsNov 29
- L106-108at Central Connecticut Blue DevilsNov 25
- W79-66vs Holy Cross CrusadersNov 22
- L64-81at Queens University RoyalsNov 15
- L60-94at Villanova WildcatsNov 12
- L80-92at Duquesne DukesNov 8
- W103-46vs Merchant Marine MarinersNov 5
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack | 23-11 | - | 17-3 |
| Saint Peter's | 17-12 | 3 | 14-6 |
| Siena | 23-12 | 4 | 13-7 |
| Marist | 19-12 | 5 | 12-8 |
| Quinnipiac | 19-13 | 5 | 12-8 |
| Fairfield | 21-13 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Mount St. Mary's | 15-17 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Iona | 18-14 | 7 | 10-10 |
| Sacred Heart | 14-19 | 8 | 9-11 |
| Manhattan | 12-20 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Canisius | 10-21 | 12 | 5-15 |
| Niagara | 8-22 | 12 | 5-15 |
| Rider | 4-25 | 14 | 3-17 |
| UMBC | 24-9 | - | 14-2 |
| Vermont | 22-12 | 2 | 12-4 |
| NJIT | 16-17 | 4 | 10-6 |
| UMass Lowell | 15-18 | 5 | 9-7 |
| UAlbany | 11-21 | 7 | 7-9 |
| Maine | 8-24 | 8 | 6-10 |
| New Hampshire | 9-21 | 9 | 5-11 |
| Bryant | 9-22 | 9 | 5-11 |
| Binghamton | 8-23 | 10 | 4-12 |
Box score
| Stat | Sacred Heart Pioneers | UMass Lowell River Hawks |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 30-61 | 33-73 |
| Field goal % | 49 | 45 |
| Three-pointers | 14-33 | 12-30 |
| Three-point % | 42 | 40 |
| Free throws | 8-11 | 9-16 |
| Free throw % | 73 | 56 |
| Rebounds | 36 | 41 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 16 |
| Defensive rebounds | 29 | 25 |
| Assists | 15 | 21 |
| Steals | 5 | 6 |
| Blocks | 1 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 18 |
| Fast-break points | 3 | 6 |
| Points in the paint | 20 | 40 |
| Fouls | 15 | 11 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 8 |
| Lead changes | 7 | 7 |
| Time in front | 46 | 46 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half44-46Austin Green makes layup (JJ Massaquoi assists)
- 2nd Half46-46Taj Bryant makes layup (Nyle Ralph-Beyer assists)
- 2nd Half46-49Xavier Spencer makes 23-foot three point jumper (JJ Massaquoi assists)
- 2nd Half48-49Taj Bryant makes layup
- 2nd Half48-51JJ Massaquoi makes layup
- 2nd Half50-51Taj Bryant makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half53-51Taj Bryant makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half53-53JJ Massaquoi makes layup
- 2nd Half56-53Mekhi Conner makes 26-foot three point jumper (Taj Bryant assists)
- 2nd Half56-55Austin Green makes 5-foot floating jump shot (Darrel Yepdo assists)
- 2nd Half56-57Austin Green makes layup
- 2nd Half56-60Darrel Yepdo makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half57-60Taj Bryant makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-61Austin Green makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-62Austin Green makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-62Abdou Yadd makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-64Xavier Spencer makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half59-64Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-64Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-66Jared Frey makes layup (Khalil Farmer assists)
- 2nd Half60-68Victor Okojie makes layup (Khalil Farmer assists)
- 2nd Half63-68Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes 25-foot three point jumper (Abdou Yadd assists)
- 2nd Half63-70Jared Frey makes layup
- 2nd Half66-70Dashon Gittens makes 24-foot three point jumper (Nyle Ralph-Beyer assists)
- 2nd Half69-70Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes 24-foot three point jumper (Dashon Gittens assists)
- 2nd Half69-72Xavier Spencer makes layup
- 2nd Half69-73Victor Okojie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-74Victor Okojie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-74Yann Farell makes layup (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half71-77Darrel Yepdo makes 24-foot three point jumper (Xavier Spencer assists)
- 2nd Half73-77Dashon Gittens makes layup
- 2nd Half73-80Darrel Yepdo makes 25-foot three point jumper (Victor Okojie assists)
- 2nd Half76-80Abdou Yadd makes 23-foot three point jumper (Mekhi Conner assists)
- 2nd Half76-83Xavier Spencer makes 23-foot three point jumper (Angel Montas Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half79-83Nyle Ralph-Beyer makes 28-foot three point jumper (Dashon Gittens assists)
- 2nd Half79-84Darrel Yepdo makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-85Darrel Yepdo makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half81-85Dashon Gittens makes layup
- 2nd Half82-85Dashon Gittens makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half82-87Victor Okojie makes 6-foot dunk (Xavier Spencer assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours UMass Lowell River Hawks, below favours Sacred Heart Pioneers.
Venue
- Kennedy Family Athletic ComplexLowell, MA
- Attendance315
- OfficialsNathan Farrell, John Cahill Jr., Evon Burroughs
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