Nov. 5, 2011

Gametracker
UMass Lowell Game Notes | Providence Game Notes

The UMass Lowell men's basketball team plays its final exhibition game of the season tonight when it visits Providence College at the Dunkin Donuts Center.

The matchup is UMass Lowell's 15th against a Division I opponent since 1975 and third matchup against a Big East foe in four years. The River Hawks clashed with the University of Connecticut in 2008 and 2009, mosing both 82-63 in the former and 88-50 in the latter.

UMass Lowell is 2-12 all-time against Division I opponents, but is hoping to join the short list of Northeast-10 Conference institutions who have scored upsets over Division I teams in the preseason.

None was bigger than Le Moyne's 82-79 victory over Syracuse on Nov. 3, 2009. Others include Saint Michael’s victory over the University of Vermont, 85-80, in November of 2000 and Bentley's over Northeastern, 82-76, Nov. 8, 2005. Franklin Pierce stunned the University of New Hampshire, 70-69, on Nov. 13, 2006 and Stonehill defeated Fairfield, 61-60, Nov. 8 last year.

The River Hawks return 13 veterans and all five starters from last year’s team which went 20-10 overall and 14-8 in the NE-10 (tied for fifth). Despite their youth (six freshmen and four sophomores in 2010-11), UMass Lowell advanced to the NE-10 Tournament semifinal as well as the NCAA Tournament first round for the third straight year and eighth time in 11 years.

Providence is fresh off a 64-51 victory over Assumption Oct. 25. The Friars were 15-17 overall and 4-14 in the Big East last season (15th). Similar to the River Hawks, the friars return 11 veterans and four starters from the 2010-11 season.

UMass Lowell opens the 2011-12 season in the University of Bridgeport Classic on Nov. 12-13, in which the River Hawks face the host Purple Knights Nov. 12 and Post University on Nov. 13.

After a key clash at Bentley Nov. 16, the River Hawks open at home Nov. 19 against Philadelphia University.