VEZAIE, Maine (Interstat) — In a game defined more by grit than grace, Angel Montas delivered a career-high 33 points to lead Massachusetts-Lowell to a 67-56 victory over Maine in an America East Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Cross Insurance Center.

The River Hawks, who improved to 14-17 overall, never trailed after the opening minutes, using a decisive first-half run to establish a cushion they would maintain despite frigid shooting from distance. The Black Bears, falling to 8-22, struggled to capitalize on their opponent’s offensive woes, hampered by poor free-throw shooting and turnovers.

Montas, a 6-foot-6 junior from Romana, Dominican Republic, was the offensive constant in an otherwise uneven contest. He played 38 minutes, connecting on 13 field goals and adding three assists. His performance came on the heels of a 30-point outing in a win over Binghamton on Feb. 21, signaling a strong late-season surge.

The most important stretch of the game unfolded midway through the first half. With Massachusetts-Lowell clinging to a narrow 15-12 lead, the River Hawks unleashed a 14-2 run over a five-minute span to seize control. Montas was the catalyst, scoring eight points during the surge, including a driving layup and a hook shot in the lane. The run was fueled by relentless work on the offensive glass, a theme throughout the night, and stifling defense that forced Maine into contested shots and mistakes.

That burst gave Massachusetts-Lowell a 29-14 advantage, and the River Hawks carried a 35-26 lead into halftime. The margin proved sufficient, as both teams labored offensively after the break. Massachusetts-Lowell shot a dismal 2 for 20 from three-point range for the game, while Maine was only slightly better at 4 for 16. From the free-throw line, the Black Bears were a crippling 12 for 24.

Maine made several pushes in the second half, trimming the deficit to nine points on multiple occasions. A Caleb Crawford jumper off a turnover brought the Black Bears within 48-42 with just over three minutes remaining, prompting a Massachusetts-Lowell timeout. Each time, however, the River Hawks responded, often through Montas or Victor Okojie, who finished with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Mekhi Gray led Maine with 14 points, while Logan Carey also scored 14 and dished out three assists. Ace Flagg contributed nine points, three blocks, and two assists for the Black Bears, but the team’s 12 turnovers and inability to convert from the charity stripe ultimately sealed their fate.

Massachusetts-Lowell’s defense was the cornerstone of the victory. The River Hawks held Maine to an offensive rating of 84.3 points per 100 possessions and dominated the rebounding battle, grabbing 12 offensive boards to Maine’s five. Xavier Spencer facilitated the offense with a game-high six assists for the visitors.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 1,148, was a departure from the teams’ previous meeting on Jan. 31, a 91-77 Massachusetts-Lowell shootout victory. This contest was a defensive grind, with the combined point total of 123 falling well below the pregame over/under line of 141.5.

With the win, Massachusetts-Lowell snapped a two-game losing streak, while Maine has now dropped two of its last three. Both teams conclude their regular seasons this weekend ahead of the America East tournament.