Thursday, February 5 vs. 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, who is currently 9-13 overall and 3-6 in America East action, hosts UMBC on Thursday, February 5 at 7 p.m. looking to snap a five-game skid.

LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt-freshman Jahad Thomas notched his second consecutive 20-point game and freshman Lance Crawford posted a career-high 17 points for UMass Lowell in a hard-fought, 76-69 loss at Binghamton (4-20, 3-6) on Saturday. Despite holding just a one-point edge at the half, Binghamton went 14-for-17 (82.4%) from the floor in the second to lead by as many as 12. The River Hawks battled throughout the entire contest, though, and were within two possessions in the final minute, but the late surge was not enough to overcome the deficit.  

LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 22 games, Jahad Thomas leads the River Hawks with 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Lance Crawford and senior Chad Holley have added to the offensive effort with 8.5 and 8.2 points, respectively, while graduate student Marco Banegas-Flores averages 7.9 points, as well. Redshirt-senior Kerry Weldon helps the team on the glass with 4.5 rebounds per game. As a team, UMass Lowell is shooting 41.0% (466-1137) from the floor and 35.3% (162-459) from beyond the arc. The squad is also shooting 66.3% (236-356) from the line.

SCOUTING UMBC
With only one win so far in the new year, the Retrievers own a 3-18 overall record, including a 1-7 mark in conference play. Wayne Sparrow and Cody Joyce lead the team with 13.8 and 12.4 points per game, respectively. Jourdan Grant dishes out four assists per game to facilitate the offense. Joyce controls the glass as well, grabbing 5.9 rebounds a game. As a whole this season, UMBC is shooting 41.3% (422-1021) from the field and 31.7% (108-341) from three-point range.

THRILLING FINALES
The River Hawks faced two close calls, falling in overtime at both Hartford and UNH. This marked 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, 488-358. That's an average of +5.9 points per game.

STEALING THE SHOW
The River Hawks are second in the AE with 6.8 steals per game. Marco Banegas-Flores, who posted a career-high four steals at Rhode Island, is third in the league with 2.0 per game and leads the team with 39 total. The team logged 15 steals at NJIT on Nov. 22 for the first time since reaching the mark against Adelphi on January 11, 2012. Kerry Weldon and Jahad Thomas set season-high marks for the team with five steals apiece against NJIT and Maine, respectively. 

A THREAT ON THREES
As a whole, UMass Lowell is second in the conference with 7.4 3FGs per game. Matt Harris leads the team with 32. In his first eight collegiate games, nine of Harris' 10 field goals came from beyond the arc, including three in the season opener at Ohio State.