Thursday, January 22 vs. Stony Brook (5:30 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team, currently 9-10 overall and 3-3 in America East action, welcomes Stony Brook to Costello Athletic Center for its first home game in 12 days on Thursday, January 22. Tipoff for this contest, which will be the first game of a doubleheader, is slated for 5:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Despite trailing by just one in the final seconds of play, UMass Lowell fell, 67-64, in an overtime thriller at New Hampshire on Monday. Redshirt-freshman Jahad Thomas posted his first career double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds to pace his team. The Wildcats scored six unanswered points in the final minute of regulation to take the lead, but Thomas banked in a last-second layup to force overtime. UNH went on to tally the first four points in the extra period, and finished strong at the line to seal the victory.

LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 19 games, Jahad Thomas leads the River Hawks with 14.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Freshman Lance Crawford and graduate student Marco Banegas-Flores have added to the offensive effort with 8.8 points apiece, while senior Chad Holley averages 8.3 points of his own. Redshirt-senior Kerry Weldon helps lead the team on the glass with 4.4 rebounds per game. As a team, UMass Lowell is shooting 41.3% (407-985) from the floor and 35.4% (140-395) from beyond the arc. The squad is also shooting 66.7% (212-318) from the line.

SCOUTING STONY BROOK
Following a 64-47 loss to UAlbany, the Seawolves sit at 12-8 overall and 3-2 in the America East standings. Stony Brook is led by Jameel Warney with16.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. The junior ranks first in the nation with 14 double-doubles, and is third in rebounds. Carson Puriefoy paces the team in assists with 3.3 per game. As a unit the Seawolves are shooting 42.2% (478-1133) from the field and 33.2% (101-304) from three-point range.

HOME SWEET HOME
Although the River Hawks have only 11 home games this year, the squad has a history of performing well in friendly confines. After starting 3-2 at home this year, UMass Lowell has accumulated a 96-50 mark in Lowell since 2003-04. Despite finishing .500 (6-6) on their own turf in 2013-14, the River Hawks have notched at least 10 home wins in five of those last 10 years.

THRILLING FINALES
The River Hawks have faced two close calls in their most recent outings, falling in overtime at both Hartford and UNH. This marks the program's first back-to-back overtime games since the 1989-90 season. The team has now played three overtime games in 2014-15, the most in a single season since 2006-07 (4).

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
Seven of the squad's nine wins so far have been decided by 10 points or less, including five by seven points or less. The team even trailed in the second half in six games this year before battling back to earn the victories.   

SUPERIOR SUBS
At UMBC on Jan. 7, UMass Lowell's bench players outscored the Retrievers', 51-1, to help the team come back to earn the overtime victory. The River Hawks' reserves have been pivotal this year, outscoring their opponents, 446-318. That's an average of +6.8 points per game.

DEFENSE WINS GAMES
Head Coach Pat Duquette has made it very clear that strong half-court defense is a foundation of his program. That was especially apparent in the team's outing against Binghamton on Jan. 2, as the River Hawks held the Bearcats to just 40 points in the win. The team has earned six of its nine wins so far when scoring less than 70 points.