Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

UMass Lowell Athletics

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF UMASS LOWELL ATHLETICS
Now Loading:
Men's Basketball
MBB Tipoff

Men's Basketball

River Hawks Welcome New Hampshire to Tsongas for ESPN3 Matchup

Thursday, January 21 vs. New Hampshire (7 p.m.)
Game Notes | Watch Live | Listen Live | Live Stats | Buy Tickets | Video Preview
Follow on Twitter: @RiverHawkMBB @RiverHawkNation
 
Radio:
River Hawk Radio Network (900, 1250, 1590 AM)
Talent: Nick Anastos (Play-by-Play), Jim Borodawka (Analyst)

LOWELL, Mas. -
The UMass Lowell men's basketball team,  who are currently 7-11 overall and 3-2 in America East action, look to carry their momenum from a two-win week into Thursday's contest against New Hampshire.      

LAST TIME OUT
Freshman Logan Primerano registered a career-high 17 points to help UMass Lowell earn a 93-82 victory at America East opponent Vermont on Jan. 18. Primerano went a personal-best, 10-for-10 from the line in the team's second road win in three days. Six River Hawks scored in double-digits, marking the most 10+ point scorers in a single-game since 2012. Redshirt sophomore Jahad Thomas, who totaled 14 points, boasted a game-high nine rebounds, while Matt Harris and freshman Isaac White each added 14 points, as well. Junior Tyler Livingston (12 points) and freshman Ryan Jones (10 points) rounded out the double-digit scorers. The Catamounts led for just the first 27 seconds of the game before UMass Lowell used 13 unasnwered points to pull away for good.

LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 18 games in 2015-16, Jahad Thomas leads the squad with 13.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Matt Harris follows with 10.7 points per game, in addition to boasting a team- and league-best 45.8 shooting percentage (38-83) from beyond the arc. Freshman Isaac White, who is first at the foul line (80.0%) and in steals (19), rounds outs the squad's double-digit scorers with 10.3 points, while junior Tyler Livingston chips in with 9.4 points, as well. As a whole, UMass Lowell is shooting 45.9 percent (487-1061) from the floor, 36.7 percent (155-422) from beyond the arc and 70.7 percent (2227-321) on free throws.

SCOUTING NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire enters Thursday's contest at with a 9-8 overall record, including a 2-2 mark in America East play. The squad split a pair of decisions last week, falling, 80-50, on the road at Stony Brook on Jan. 16 before bouncing back to defeat Maine, 99-91, at home on Jan. 18. Sophomore Tanner Leissner is pacing the team, averaging 14.4 points, while junior Jaleen Smith leads the squad in assists (55), steals (35) and blocks (16). Smith adds 12.4 points per game, as well. As a team, New Hampshire is logging 71.8 points per game, and shooting 43.6 percent (432-991) from the field, including 34.0 percent (110-324) from long range. The Wildcats are pulling in 38.7 boards per game, and have forced 70 steals and 22 blocks so far this season.

SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's contest marks the fifth meeting between UMass Lowell and New Hampshire in the sport of men's basketball. The Wildcats own a 3-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 76-60 win at Tsongas on February 21, 2015.

ON-TARGET
The River Hawks are shooting well from the floor this year, boasting a 45.9 field goal percentage that is good for second in the league.

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 second in the America East for 3FGs made (8.6) and 3FG percentage (36.7). Through 18 games, Matt Harris paces the team and league with 38 three-pointers (45.8%).

SWEET SPOT
UMass Lowell has found its groove at the foul line recently. After shooting at least 76 percent at the line in their last three games, including a season-high 27 free throws made (84.4%) at Vermont, the team now owns a 70.7 clip (227-321) for the year.

HOME SWEET HOME
Although the River Hawks have only 12 home games this year, the squad has a history of performing well in friendly confines. The team opened the year going 4-1 in Lowell, marking the program's best home record to start a season during the Division I era. With the 4-2 home record this year, UMass Lowell has accumulated a 103-55 mark in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.

PLAYING AT TSONGAS  
UMass Lowell owns a 3-6 all-time record at the Tsongas Center. Most recently, the squad dropped an 80-60 decision against Boston University in the arena on Dec. 10. The River Hawks picked up their first ever Division I victory at Tsongas earlier this season on Nov. 18 with its 87-84 victory against Sacred Heart. Previously, they defeated Division II NE-10 rival Merrimack in 2010 (71-70) and 2011 (68-66), but fell three times at Tsongas in 2013-14 (Duquesne, New Hampshire and Stony Brook) and twice in 2014-15 (Vermont and New Hampshire).

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.

EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES
Having such a young team means everyone has to play a role. That was especially evident when the River Hawks' bench provided 59 points in the win at UMBC on Jan. 16. So far this season, the bench has been pivotal, outscoring their opponents, 569-405. In addition, the team has already logged 11 games with at least four double-digit scorers this year, including one game with six double-digit scorers (at Vermont, Jan. 18), marking the first time that had happened since Dec. 1, 2012 vs. Merrimack.

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 33.0 rebounds per game compared to 28.9 rebounds last year. Additionally, the team has already outrebounded its opponent five times in 2015-16, matching the total number of times its did so during all of 2014-15.

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
UMass Lowell has earned several last-minute wins already this year for a 6-1 record in games decided by six points or less. Since 2014-15, 14 of the squad's most recent 19 wins have been decided by 10 points or less, including 12 by seven points or less. The team has even trailed in the second half in 12 games before battling back to earn the victories.  
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Matt Harris

#22 Matt Harris

G
6' 1"
Sophomore
Tyler Livingston

#24 Tyler Livingston

F
6' 6"
Junior
Jahad  Thomas

#10 Jahad Thomas

G/F
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Isaac  White

#11 Isaac White

G
6' 0"
Freshman
Ryan Jones

#4 Ryan Jones

G
6' 3"
Freshman
Logan Primerano

#23 Logan Primerano

G/F
6' 4"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Matt Harris

#22 Matt Harris

6' 1"
Sophomore
G
Tyler Livingston

#24 Tyler Livingston

6' 6"
Junior
F
Jahad  Thomas

#10 Jahad Thomas

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
G/F
Isaac  White

#11 Isaac White

6' 0"
Freshman
G
Ryan Jones

#4 Ryan Jones

6' 3"
Freshman
G
Logan Primerano

#23 Logan Primerano

6' 4"
Freshman
G/F