January 5 vs. UAlbany (7 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 Borodawka (Analyst)

Twitter: @RiverHawkFH | @RiverHawkNation Tweet #UnitedInBlue

LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team, who is currently 5-9 overall in 2016-17, opens its America East Conference slate when it hosts UAlbany on Thursday, January 5 at 7 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas matched a career high with 27 points to lead the UMass Lowell men's basketball team to a 98-96 overtime victory at Cornell (3-10). Thomas went 11-for-14 from the field, pacing a River Hawk offense that shot 52.9 percent (37-70) on the night. Sophomore Logan Primerano posted a season-best 22 points, while going 9-for-10 from the foul line. Classmate Ryan Jones added 17 points of his own, and senior Tyler Livingston and junior Matt Harris rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Following the 18th tie of the contest, Harris banked in the go-ahead shot with four seconds left in regulation, but it would not end there, as the Big Red scored on a fast-break going the other way to beat the buzzer and force overtime. Livingston gave the River Hawks the momentum with the first five points of the extra period and although Cornell cut the difference to just two with two minutes to go, Primerano converted on a pair of important free throws to secure the decision.

LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 14 games in 2016-17, Jahad Thomas leads the squad with 16.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, 53 assists and 23 steals. Thomas is one of three River Hawks scoring in double figures this season, as Matt Harris and Tyler Livingston follow closely with 12.9 and 12.6 points per game, respectively. Livingston is first on the team with 36 three-pointers in 2016-17, while Harris boasts a 94.4 percent clip (51-54) from the line. Logan Primerano and freshman Cameron Wolter have logged five blocks apiece, as well. As a whole, UMass Lowell is shooting 46.8 percent (377-806) from the floor, 37.5 percent (114-304) from beyond the arc and 80.5 percent (231-287) from the foul line.

SCOUTING UALBANY
The Great Danes own a 9-6 record this season after having won three of their last four outings. Most recently, UAlbany wrapped up non-conference play with a 70-67 victory at Columbia on Dec. 30 and a 69-59 win against Cornell at home on Jan. 2. Joe Cremo and David Nichols are first on the squad with 16.8 and 16.0 points per game, respectively. Cremo also totals 54 assists on the year to lead the squad. Greig Stire chips in with 7.3 points, and team highs for rebounds (6.3) and field goal percentage (56.6%), as well. The Great Danes are shooting 45.6 percent (388-851) from the floor and 33.3 percent (70-210) from three-point range.

SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's meeting marks the 16th meeting between UMass Lowell and UAlbany in the sport of men's basketball. The Great Danes own a 9-6 lead in the all-time series, including a pair of wins last season.

A WIN WOULD
A win against UAlbany would mark the first win against the Great Danes since 2014. It would also give UMass Lowell its third victory in four years in its America East opener. The win would mark the River Hawks' second consecutive win, as well.

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 when the River Hawks totaled 43 against Assumption. The team is currently shooting 80.5 percent (231-287) from the charity stripe, good for first in the America East Conference. Individually, Matt Harris, who was perfect through the first five games of the season, is leading the way for the league with 94.4 percent clip (51-54) on free throws.

WHAT IF
If the River Hawks were through their Division I transition and could be officially ranked in statistical categories by the NCAA, they would sit third in the nation for free throw percentage (80.5%) behind only Notre Dame and Marquette.

THE COUNTDOWN TO 1,000
Jahad Thomas is within striking distance of becoming the program's 40th player all-time to join the prestigious 1,000 Point Club. Currently boasting 962 career points, he also ranks fourth among the America East's active career scoring leaders.

ON TARGET
The River Hawks have consistently taken the right shots, having gone at least 50.0 percent from the floor already five times this season. The team is third in the conference right now, shooting 46.8 percent overall. Jahad Thomas, who is second overall in the league, owns a team-best 59.2 percent clip (87-147) from the field. UMass Lowell has outshot its opponent in 10 of its 14 games thus far.

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 78.5 points per game to sit second in the conference.

HELPING HANDS
One key to the River Hawks' balanced scoring is their ability to share the basketball. This year, the squad is averaging 15.6 assists per game to lead the America East. UMass Lowell is led by Jahad Thomas with a total of 53 helpers so far.

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 3-2 record so far this year, UMass Lowell has a history of performing well at home, accumulating a 108-60 mark in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.

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

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
The River Hawks' thrilling, last-second victories against BU (77-75) and Cornell (98-96) marked the team's smallest margin of victory this year. The team is familiar with close games, though, as eight of the 14 total decisions so far this season have come down to 10 points or less. Since beginning 2014-15, 17 of the squad's 28 wins have been decided by seven points or less. The team has even trailed in the second half in 18 games during that time frame before battling back to earn the victories.