January 28 vs. Fisher (2 p.m.)
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Radio:
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Talent: Nick Anastos (Play-by-Play), Matt Langone (Analyst)

TV:
ESPN3
Talent: DJ Sixsmith (Play-by-Play), Jim Bordawka (Analyst)

Twitter: @RiverHawkFH | @RiverHawkNation Tweet #UnitedInBlue

LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team, who is currently 8-14 overall and 3-5 in America East action in 2016-17, will take a break from league play to host Fisher College in a non-conference tilt on Saturday, January 28. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. 

LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas logged his second consecutive 20+ point game, as the UMass Lowell River Hawks dropped an 80-71 decision at America East opponent New Hampshire (14-7, 5-2 AE) on Wednesday evening, Jan. 25. Thomas totaled a game-high 24 points with eight rebounds and five assists. Freshman Rinardo Perry chipped in with a personal-best 14 points, while sophomores Logan Primerano and Ryan Jones added 11 and 10, respectively. The River Hawks jumped in front early, creating a two-possession lead, but the Wildcats used a 16-9 run in the first half to take a lead that they would not surrender for the rest of the contest.

LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 22 games in 2016-17, Jahad Thomas leads the squad with 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, 101 assists and 31 steals. Thomas is one of four River Hawks scoring in double figures this season, as Tyler Livingston follows with 13.7 points per game, and Ryan Jones and junior Matt Harris chip in with 11.7 and 11.2, respectively. Livingston is first on the team with 57 three-pointers and eight blocks in 2016-17, while Harris boasts a 93.8 percent clip (60-64) from the line. Sophomore Logan Primerano, who adds 7.1 points per game, totals seven blocks on the year, as well. As a whole, UMass Lowell is shooting 47.7 percent (609-1276) from the floor, 37.4 percent (170-455) from beyond the arc and 76.3 percent (316-414) from the foul line.

SCOUTING FISHER
The Falcons own a 14-7 overall record this season, playing as a NAIA Division II institution. The squad has won seven of its last eight games, including a 70-63 victory at Connecticut College on Jan. 25. Kyle Holmes is pacing the 15-person roster in scoring, averaging 20.6 points per game. Malik Wilson, who chips in with 12.0 points per game, is boasting a team-best 7.7 rebounds per game, while Darrell Grady has also dished out a team-high 81 assists so far. The Falcons are shooting 40.6 percent (555-1366) from the floor and 35.0 percent (178-508) from three-point range.

A WIN WOULD
A win against Fisher would mark the River Hawks' first victory against the Falcons, as this will be the first time the teams are squaring off. It would also snap a four-game skid for the River Hawks.   

SWEET SPOT
UMass Lowell has made the most of its opportunities at the line so far this season. The squad tallied 32 made free throws in the win against Wagner on Nov. 14, marking the most in a single game for the program since Jan. 4, 1995 (43 vs. Assumption). The team is currently shooting 76.3 percent (316-414) from the charity stripe, good for first in the conference. Individually, Matt Harris, who was perfect through the first five games of the season, is leading the way for the team with 93.8 percent clip (60-64) on free throws.

UNDER CONTROL
The River Hawks have improved from averaging 17.8 turnovers per game during non-conference play to 13.3 turnovers in league action.

A DISH BEST SERVED BY THOMAS
Jahad Thomas dished out his 100th assist of the season at New Hampshire on Jan. 25. With 101 on the year, he has already set a new personal best and has logged the most helpers in a single season since 2010-11 (Robbie Walton, 119).

HIGH SCORING AFFAIRS
The River Hawks, who posted a season-high 98 points at Cornell, have become accustomed to high-scoring games. After averaging a league-best 76.6 points per game in 2015-16,  the team is averaging 77.5 points per game to sit second in the conference.

STEPPING UP
Several River Hawks have stepped up to fill the void left by two-year starter Isaac White, who will miss the remainder of the season. Logan Primerano has helped lead that charge by improving from just 4.4 points per game through the first 10 games to an average of 10.2 points in the most recent 11 outings.

ON TARGET
The River Hawks have consistently taken the right shots, having gone at least 50.0 percent from the floor already eight times this season. The team is second in the conference right now, shooting 47.7 percent overall. Jahad Thomas, who is first overall in the league and 20th in the nation, owns a team-best 60.2 percent clip (151-251) from the field. UMass Lowell has outshot its opponent in 13 of its 22 games thus far.

SENIOR STANDOUT
Tyler Livingston is leaving his mark in his final campaign with the best season of his career so far. After averaging no more than 7.4 points per game in a season previously, he is currently second on the squad with 13.7 points per game in 2016-17.

HELPING HANDS
One key to the River Hawks' balanced scoring is their ability to share the basketball. This year, the squad is averaging 15.8 assists per game to lead the America East. Jahad Thomas is fifth among active career leaders in the America East with 235 helpers.

HOARDING THE BOARDS
With a Division I-high 53 boards in the team's win against Hartford, the squad logged its most rebounds in a game since 2012 (52 vs. Bentley). The team has already pulled down at least 40 rebounds in six games, exceeding the number of times that it did so all of last season. Jahad Thomas, who leads the league with 9.5 total rebounds and 7.1 defensive rebounds per game, ranks second among active career leaders in the America East with a total of 566.

EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES
Having such a young team means everyone has to play a role. In 14 of the team's games so far, at least four players have scored in double figures, with five River Hawks boasting over 10 points in five games, including back-to-back outings against Loyola and Cornell.

HOME SWEET HOME
With 14 home games in 2016-17, the River Hawks will play their most games in front of a friendly crowd since moving to Division I. Including a 5-4 record so far this year, UMass Lowell has accumulated a 110-62 mark in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.

A THREAT ON THREES
UMass Lowell has been strong from beyond the arc in recent years under Duquette's tutelage. The River Hawks are third in the America East right now, shooting 37.4 percent (170-455) from long range this year, including a season-high 12 makes at Fort Wayne and against UAlbany. Tyler Livingston, who is currently first on the team with 57 makes, logged a career-high seven threes on Nov. 26 against LIU Brooklyn.