Saturday, January 16 at UMBC (12 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team, who enters the weekend at 5-11 overall and 1-2 in America East action, will play a pair of conference road games in the next three days beginning at UMBC on Saturday, January 16. Tipoff for the contest is scheduled for 12 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt sophomore Jahad Thomas posted a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds, as UMass Lowell dropped a 95-81 decision against league opponent Maine on January 13. Thomas was one of four double-digit scorers for the River Hawks. Sophomore Matt Harris chipped in with 14 points, while freshmen Ryan Jones and Isaac White totaled 11 and 10 points, respectively. Although UMass Lowell pulled within one point of the Black Bears' lead at 58-57 with 14 minutes remaining in the contest, the visitors would use a 16-2 run to pull away en route to the decision.

LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 16 games in 2015-16, Jahad Thomas leads the squad with 12.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Isaac White follows with 10.4 points per game, in addition to boasting a team-best 34 threes and 16 steals this year. Matt Harris and junior Tyler Livingston chip in with 9.2 and 8.7 points apiece. Harris is first on the team, shooting 45 percent from long range. In addition, Keith Hayes II is pacing the team from the foul line, shooting at a clip of 82.1 percent (32-39), As a whole, UMass Lowell is shooting 45.2 percent (428-947) from the floor, 36.6 percent (138-377) from beyond the arc and 68.2 percent (174-255) on free throws.

SCOUTING UMBC
UMBC enters Saturday's contest at 5-13 overall and 1-2 in America East play, after splitting a pair of decisions last week. The Retrievers picked up their first conference victory against Maine, 89-76, on Jan. 9, prior to falling to America East favorite Stony Brook, 86-74, on Jan. 13. Sophomore Jairus Lyles is headlining the team in points (25.0), rebounds (6.1), and steals per game (2.6). Classmate Rodney Elliot paces the squad with 3.7 assists, while putting up a second-best 13.5 points. Freshman Joe Sherburne follows closely behind with 13.1. As a team, UMBC is netting 70.9 points per game, in addition to shooting 43.2 percent (279-779) from the field and 33.1 percent (76-210) from downtown.

SERIES HISTORY
UMass Lowell has matched up against UMBC just four times, beginning when the squad joined the America East in 2013-14. The River Hawks are a perfect, 4-0 in the series, including a 67-51 victory in the most recent outing on February 5, 2015.

ACHIEVEMENTS UNLOCKED
In the team's most recent outing against Maine, Jahad Thomas surpassed 500 career points. Previously, at Stony Brook on Jan. 9, he also logged his 250th career rebound, while Mark Cornelius reached 300 career points.

A THREAT ON THREES
UMass Lowell is strong from beyond the arc for the second straight season. The team, who posted a season-high 12 threes at NJIT on Dec. 5 and at UConn on Dec. 20, is currently leading the America East in 3FG percentage (36.6) and is second in 3FGs made (8.6). Through 16 games, Isaac White paces the squad with 34 three-pointers (41.0%).

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). Jahad Thomas  logged a single-game high for the team this year with seven helpers at Boston College on Dec. 6. and at UConn on Dec. 20. As a whole, the River Hawks are second in the America East with 14.9 assists per game.

ROAD WARRIORS
The River Hawks play 17 of their 29 games in 2015-16 away from friendly confines. The non-conference road schedule shaped up to be the team's hardest yet in the Division I,  especially with seven of eight games on the road from Dec. 3-30. The team, who sits at 1-9 in away games so far, has accumulated an 82-102 road record since 2003-04.

EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES
Having such a young team means everyone has to play a role. That was very evident when the River Hawks' bench provided 48 points in the win against Hartford on Jan. 6. So far this season, the bench has been pivotal, outscoring their opponents, 465-350. In addition, the team has already logged nine games with at least four double-digit scorers this year.

ALL RIGHT WITH LEFTIES
In 2015-16, seven members of UMass Lowell's 14-man roster are left handed.

ON-TARGET
The River Hawks are shooting well from the floor this year, boasting a 45.2 field goal percentage that is good for second in the league.

HOARDING THE BOARDS
With some more size in the lineup this year, the River Hawks are focusing on pulling down more rebounds. In the team's win against Cornell on Nov. 29, the squad grabbed a season-high 46 boards, a number they beat just once in 2014-15. UMass Lowell is averaging 32.6 rebounds per game compared to 28.9 rebounds last year. Additionally, the team has already outrebounded its opponent four times in 2015-16, compared to just five time total in 2014-15.