Thursday, December 3 at LIU Brooklyn (7 p.m.)
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BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team, who is currently 3-2 on the young season, travels to LIU Brooklyn to kick off a three-game road trip on Thursday, December 3 at 7 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt sophomore Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) totaled 19 points and nine rebounds to lead UMass Lowell to a hard-fought, 80-77 victory against Cornell on Sunday afternoon, November 29. The decision marked the program's first win ever against an Ivy League opponent. Thomas notched season highs of four assists and three steals in outing. Freshman Isaac White (Ashland, Ohio) added to the offense with 18 points and nine rebounds of his own, while freshman Keith Hayes II (Little Rock, Ark.) and sophomore Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) rounded out the double-digit scorers for UMass Lowell. The score was tied twice with less than six minutes to play in the contest, but Thomas came up big with three straight buckets in the waning minutes to give his squad the lead for good. UMass Lowell then went 5-for-6 from the line in the final minute to help secure the outcome.

LEADING THE FLOCK
Through five games in 2015-16, Jahad Thomas leads the squad with 13.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, as well as 14 assists. Isaac White adds to the offense with a team-best 11 three-pointers, and is UMass Lowell's only other double-digit scorer, averaging 11.6 points. Freshman Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.), who has posted 8.8 points per game, is first on the team from the charity stripe, shooting 87.5 percent (7-8). Senior Mark Cornelius (Westford, Mass.) chips in with eight steals, while Dontavious Smith (Cullen, La.) has recorded five blocks so far. As a whole, UMass Lowell is shooting 44.2 percent (138-312) from the floor, 40.7 (44-108) from beyond the arc and 73.9 percent (65-88) on free throws.

SCOUTING LIU BROOKLYN
LIU Brooklyn enters Thursday's contest on a two-game skid, sitting at 3-2 in 2015. After winning their first three games, the Blackbirds dropped an 80-72 decision at Florida International on Nov. 25 before being topped by Dartmouth, 79-56, on Nov. 29. Martin Hermannsson leads the squad with 16.8 points per game, while Jermoe Frink follows closely behind averaging 15.4 points. Frink is also first on the team in blocks (9) and rebounds (43). Through five games, Aakim Saintill is pacing LIU Brooklyn with 22 assists, and 13 steals, and is shooting 38.9 percent from long range. As a team, the Blackbirds are shooting 40.5 percent (124-306) from the field and 24.5 percent (25-102) from behind the arc. LIU Brooklyn has averaged 38.6 boards per game in addition to posting 33 steals and 23 blocks so far this season.

STEALING THE SHOW
The River Hawks posted 15 steals against Sacred Heart on Nov. 18, while forcing 25 turnovers. The squad was led by Mark Cornelius, who logged a career-high with five takeaways. He is currently fourth in the America East with 1.6 steals per game, while the team as a whole sits in first with 9.2 per game.

A THREAT ON THREES
UMass Lowell is strong from beyond the arc for the second straight season. The team is currently leading the America East for 3FGs made (8.8) and 3FG percentage (40.7). Through five games, Ryan Jones paces the squad, shooting 52.9% (9-17) on three-pointers.

HELPING HANDS
On Nov. 24 against Wheelock, UMass Lowell recorded 25 assists as a team for the first time since 2009, when the team posted 32 against Division II Mercy (11/15/09). Isaac White logged a single-game high with six helpers in the
Wheelock contest. As a whole, the River Hawks sit second in the America East with 14.6 assists per game.

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
UMass Lowell has earned exciting, last-minute wins against Cornell and Sacred Heart already this year for a 2-0 record in games decided by less than five points. Since 2014-15, 10 of the squad's most recent 15 wins have been decided by 10 points or less, including eight by seven points or less. The team has even trailed in the second half in nine games before battling back to earn the victories.   

ROAD WARRIORS
The River Hawks strive once again to be a good road team with 17 of their 29 games in 2015-16 scheduled to be played away from friendly confines. The team's longest road swing of the year will be four straight games from December 18-30. The team has accumulated an 81-95 road record since 2003-04.

EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES
Having such a young team means everyone has to play a role. So far this season, 10 different players have seen action in all five games and the bench has been pivotal, outscoring their opponent, 167-97. In addition, the team has already logged three games with at least four double-digit scorers this year.