November 15 vs. Marist (7:30 p.m.)
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November 19 vs. Cornell (1 p.m.)
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Talent: Chris Villani (Play-by-Play), Jim Borodawka (Analyst)
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River Hawk Radio Network: (980AM WCAP)
Talent: Nick Anastos (Play-by-Play), Matt Langone (Analyst)
Twitter: @RiverHawkMBB | @RiverHawkNationÂ
LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team continues a six-game homestand with two more outings this week, as the squad first welcomes Marist to Costello Athletic Center on Wednesday, November 12 in the second game of a doubleheader set to begin at 7:30 p.m. The River Hawks will then play their first game at the Tsongas Center this season against Cornell on Sunday, November 19 at 1 p.m.
A WIN WOULD
A win on Wednesday would tie the all-time series against Marist, 1-1. It would also be the River Hawks' first victory in a home doubleheader with the UMass Lowell women's team of Division I era. A victory would give the squad it's first winning record through three games since transitioning to DI, as well.     Â
HOME SWEET HOME
UMass Lowell's homestand that spans the rest of the month of November marks the most consecutive home games for the program since 2003-04 (7). In 2017-18, the team has more home games than ever before at the Division I level (16). Including a 1-0 record this season, the River Hawks have accumulated a 114-64 mark in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04. Â
LAST TIME OUT
Junior
Ryan Jones totaled a season-best 23 points to pace five double-digit scorers for UMass Lowell in a 102-63 win against UMass Boston on Nov. 12 in the team's home opener. The first half saw seven tied scores before the River Hawks put together a 60-point effort in the second to pull away for the victory. R. Jones was joined in double-figures by junior
Shawn Jones, who finished with a season-high 18 points, and senior
Matt Harris, who went 7-for-8 from the foul line with 17 total points. Redshirt-sophomore
Connor Bennett registered his first career double-double with a personal-best 14 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman
Obadiah Noel (Frederick, Md.) chipped in with 12 points.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Through two games,
Matt Harris is pacing the River Hawks with 18.0 points.
Shawn Jones (15.0),
Ryan Jones (14.5) and
Connor Bennett (10.5) round out the team's scorers in double-digits. Bennett is boasting a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game, while S. Jones has dished out a team-best 3.5 assists per game. Harris and S. Jones are tied for the team lead with five steals apiece, as well. Â
SCOUTING MARIST
The Red Foxes are currently 0-1 on the young season, after facing an 84-76 overtime loss against Lehigh in the season opener on Nov. 11. Brian Parker is pacing the offense with 22.0 point, while Ryan Funk and Aleksander Dozic have added 19.0 and 13.0 points, respectively. Dozic owns a team-best 9.0 rebounds, as well.
A DIFFERENCE ON DEFENSE
UMass Lowell has made defense its top priority in 2017-18 and the difference is apparent. The team set a new program Division I record with 56 rebounds, in addition to tying the record for blocks with eight against UMass Boston on Nov. 12. Additionally, after finishing in the bottom half of the league in several defensive categories in the last four seasons, the River Hawks are currently second in scoring defense (68.5), third in rebounding margin (+6.0) and fifth in turnover margin (+1.0).
ALL-INCLUSIVE
So far in 2017-18, the River Hawks' lineup features four players averaging in double figures with a season-high five 10+ point scorers against UMass Boston. The team is also second in the America East right now with 15.5 assists per game.
STEALING THE SHOW
Shawn Jones has given UMass Lowell a spark on the defensive end this year, tallying four steals in his debut at UMass. As a team, the River Hawks, who totaled nine steals in that Nov. 10 opener, rank third in the league in steals per game (7.0).
STRONG FIRST IMPRESSION
Obadiah Noel earned the first America East Rookie of the Week Award on Nov. 13. He became just the second River Hawk to garner AE Rookie of the Week honors following their collegiate debut after
Jahad Thomas did so back in 2014. The guard averaged 9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds with three assists in a 1-1 opening week for the River Hawks.
SWEET SPOT
The River Hawks are ranked sixth in the nation for free throws made (54). The team is shooting 76.1 percent on free throws through two games, good for third in the America East. Individually,
Shawn Jones (90.0) and
Connor Bennett (83.3) are both in the top 10. Â
CAREER DAY
Connor Bennett had a career-game against UMass Boston on Nov. 12, logging his first ever double-double with career highs of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
A THREAT ON THREES
The River Hawks' top returning three-point shooters,
Matt Harris (63) and
Ryan Jones (56), combined for 119 threes last year to rank first in the America East among any returning long-range shooting duos. Harris is sixth in the league so far this year from three-point range (46.2%).
FAMILY FEUD
UMass Lowell opened the 2017-18 season against a pair of fellow University of Massachusetts system schools. Combined, those contests were tied on 21 occasions.
