Monday, January 5 at Brown (7 p.m.)
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Wednesday, January 7 at UMBC (7 p.m.)
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Talent: Nick Anastos (Play by Play); Jim Borodawka (Analyst)

LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team takes to the road for a pair of games this week. The squad will first visit Brown on Monday, January 5 for it's final non-conference game of the season beginning at 7 p.m. before traveling to America East foe UMBC for a 7 p.m. tilt on Wednesday, Jan. 7.

UMass Lowell's Washington DC Alumni Chapter is hosting a pre-game event before Wednesday night's action at UMBC. The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception at the Ships Cafe Restaurant in Catonsville, MD. The event is $20 and includes the reception, game ticket and a donation to the men's basketball program. In addition, the DC chapter is hosting a reception before the Friday, Jan. 9 Washington Wizards game against the Chicago Bulls. Limited tickets, including food and beverages, are available. To register for either event, visit uml.edu/alumni.

LOOKING AT UMASS LOWELL
The River Hawks are currently 7-6 overall in 2014-15. The squad picked up a win in its first America East game of the year last week to move to 1-0 in league play, as well.

LAST TIME OUT
After trailing by as many as 10 points, UMass Lowell mounted a second half comeback to earn a 50-40 victory against Binghamton and snap a four-game skid in its AE opener on Friday. Redshirt-freshman Jahad Thomas posted game highs with 15 points and eight rebounds to pace the River Hawks' offense. Senior Chad Holley and freshman Lance Crawford added nine points apiece

LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 13 games, Jahad Thomas leads the River Hawks with 14.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Lance Crawford and graduate student Marco Banegas-Flores have added to the offensive effort with 9.5 and 9.2 points, respectively, while Chad Holley averages 7.8 points of his own. Redshirt-senior Kerry Weldon helps lead the team on the glass with 5.2 rebounds per game each. As a team, UMass Lowell is shooting 42.4% (281-662) from the floor and 35.7% (96-269) from beyond the arc. The squad is also shooting 65.9% (147-223) from the line.

SCOUTING BROWN
The Bears entertain the River Hawks for their first game of the New Year with a 7-7 record, following an 80-60 loss to Rhode Island on New Year's Eve. Brown's 67.1 points per game leads the Ivy League. Leland King paces the offense with 14.4 points per game. Cedric Kuakumensah and Steven Spieth both average in doube-figures with 12.5 and 10.4 points, respectively. Tavon Blackmon dishes out 3.8 assists per game, and Rafeal Maia grabs 7.5 rebounds a game. The Bears are shooting 43.1% (313-726) from the field and 34.8% (80-230) from three-point range.

SCOUTING UMBC
The Retrievers, who are 2-11 this year, host the River Hawks in their America East opener on Wednesday. UMBC has dropped its last two games, including a 70-55 loss against NJIT on Jan. 2. Wayne Sparrow and Cody Joyce are the only players scoring in double-digits, averaging 12.5 and 10.2 points per game, respectively. Jourdan Grant is dishing out 3.8 helpers, and Devarick Houston is grabbing 5.2 rebounds per game. The Retrievers are shooting at a 40.9% clip (257-642) from the field, and 29.9% (61-204) from three-point range.

SERIES HISTORY
Brown defeated UMass Lowell, 87-76, in the first meeting ever between the two teams last year on November 19, 2013. The River Hawks lead the all-times series against UMBC, 2-0, after sweeping the home-and-home series against the Retrievers a season ago.

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 most recent outing, as the River Hawks held Binghamton to just 40 points in the win. The team has earned five of its seven wins so far when scoring less than 70 points.

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
Six of the squad's seven wins so far have been decided by 10 points or less, including four by seven points or less. The team even trailed in the second half in four of those games (at NJIT, Fordham and BU) before battling back to earn the victories.