January 8 at Binghamton (2 p.m.)
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VESTAL, N.Y. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team, who is currently 6-9 overall in 2016-17, hits the road for a pair of America East games beginning on Sunday, January 8 when the squad visits Binghamton for a 2 p.m. tilt.

LAST TIME OUT
Facing the 10th tied score of the night with just three minutes left to play, the UMass Lowell men's basketball team tallied the final six points to pull away and secure an exciting, 85-79 victory in its America East opener against UAlbany (9-7) on Thursday, Jan. 5. The decision marked the team's first victory against the Great Danes since the 2013-14 season. UMass Lowell is now 3-1 in America East openers. Four River Hawks finished the night in double-digits paced by senior Tyler Livingston, who turned in 20 points. Sophomore Ryan Jones chipped in with a season-high 19 points, while junior Matt Harris added 17 of his own. Redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas, who matched a personal best with eight assists, rounded out the scorers in double figures with 13 points.

LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 15 games in 2016-17, Jahad Thomas leads the squad with 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, 61 assists and 25 steals. Thomas is one of four River Hawks scoring in double figures this season, as Matt Harris and Tyler Livingston follow closely with 13.2 and 13.1 points per game, respectively, while Ryan Jones adds 10.7. Livingston is first on the team with 42 three-pointers in 2016-17, while Harris boasts a 94.6 percent clip (53-56) from the line. Sophomore Logan Primerano has logged six blocks to pace the team, as well. As a whole, UMass Lowell is shooting 47.8 percent (410-858) from the floor, 38.5 percent (126-327) from beyond the arc and 79.6 percent (238-299) from the foul line.

SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
The Bearcats own a 9-7 record this season after falling in their America East opener, 85-71, at UMBC on Jan. 5. Prior to that outing, Binghamton closed out non-conference play with a 101-54 victory against Marywood on Dec. 30. J.C. Show and Willie Rodriguez are first on the team with 13.3 and 11.4 points per game, respectively. Rodriguez also boasts a team-best 5.6 rebounds per game. Timmy Rose has been the Bearcats' primary playmaker with 59 assists on the year, while Thomas Bruce totals 14 blocks so far. The Bearcats are shooting 46.7 percent (416-890) from the floor and 38.8 percent (133-343) from three-point range.

SERIES HISTORY
Sunday's contest marks the 12th meeting between UMass Lowell and Binghamton in the sport of men's basketball. The River Hawks own a 7-4 edge in the all-time series, although the Bearcats swept the two meetings in 2015-16.

A WIN WOULD
A win against Binghamton would snap a three-game skid for the River Hawks in the all-time series against the Bearcats. It would also mark the second time UMass Lowell has started 2-0 in America East play. The win would mark the River Hawks' third 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 79.6 percent (238-299) 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 94.6 percent clip (53-56) 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 fourth in the nation for free throw percentage (79.6%) behind only Notre Dame, Marquette and Valparaiso.

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 975 career points, he also ranks fourth among the America East's active career scoring leaders.

HITTING THEIR STRIDE
With the win against UAlbany in the books, the youthful River Hawks have now won four of their last five games, good for their most successful stretch since putting together a three-game win streak last season from Feb. 8-14.

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 almost tripling his scoring, improving from just 4.4 points per game through the first 10 games to an average of 11.8 points in the most recent five outings.

ON TARGET
The River Hawks have consistently taken the right shots, having gone at least 50.0 percent from the floor already six times this season. The team is second in the conference right now, shooting 47.8 percent overall. Jahad Thomas, who is second overall in the league, owns a team-best 59.4 percent clip (92-155) from the field. UMass Lowell has outshot its opponent in 11 of its 15 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 78.9 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 15.7 assists per game to lead the America East. UMass Lowell is led by Jahad Thomas with a total of 61 helpers so far.

ROAD WARRIORS
The River Hawks play 17 of their 31 games in 2016-17 away from friendly confines, including five of their first six. The team is still looking for its first true road win of the year, having picked up its lone victory away from home this season in a neutral-site contest vs. Mississippi Valley State. UMass Lowell has accumulated an 89-112 road record since 2003-04.

EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES
Having such a young team means everyone has to play a role. Nine 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 back-to-back outings against Loyola and Cornell.

A THREAT ON THREES
UMass Lowell has been strong from beyond the arc in recent years under Duquette's tutelage. The River Hawks are fourth in the America East right now, shooting 38.5 percent (126-327) 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 42 makes, logged a career-high seven threes on Nov. 26 against LIU Brooklyn.

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 nine of the 15 total decisions so far this season have come down to 10 points or less. Since beginning 2014-15, 18 of the squad's 29 wins have been decided by seven points or less. The team has even trailed in the second half in 19 games during that time frame before battling back to earn the victories.