January 13 vs. UMBC (12 p.m.)
Game Notes | Watch Live | Listen Live | Live Stats | Buy Tickets
January 15 vs. New Hampshire (2:30 p.m.)
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Radio
River Hawk Radio Network: (980AM WCAP)
Talent: Nick Anastos (Play-by-Play), Matt Langone (Analyst)
TV
ESPN3
Talent: Chris Villani (Play-by-Play), Jim Borodawka (Analyst)
Twitter: @RiverHawkMBB | @RiverHawkNation
LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team gets back on it's home court in the Tsongas Center for back-to-back America East contests. The squad first hosts UMBC on Saturday, January 13 in a 12 p.m. tilt before welcoming New Hampshire for a 2:30 p.m. tipoff on Monday, January 15. Â
MLK DAY PRIDE
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the River Hawks will be donning special alternate jerseys for Monday's game against New Hampshire. These game-issued blue uniform tops tie into Dr. King's "What is Your Life's Blueprint?" with a blueprint design that highlights key traits Dr. King often expounded upon (DREAM, WORTH, DIGNITY, BELIEF, RESPECT, PRIDE, DETERMINATION, EXCELLENCE). The jersey features the America East logo on the right chest and OT Sports logo on the left chest. The back features DREAM across the name plate. An auction for the jerseys will open during Monday's game
HERE.
TEAM IMPACT DAY
On Monday, UMass Lowell also celebrates Team IMPACT Day to recognize their honorary teammate Nathaniel Fortes. Team IMPACT is a Boston-based nonprofit whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Six-year-old Nathaniel officially joined the men's basketball team on November 1, 2016 during a special Draft Day event. He was diagnosed with Kawasaki's disease when he was six months old. Kawasaki's is a disease where the blood vessels throughout the body become inflamed, impacting many parts of the body. He also has neutropenia, making him more susceptible to bacterial infections. Since joining the team, Nathaniel has enjoyed attending many games. His River Hawk teammates have also visited him at school and at his birthday party. For Monday's game, Nathaniel will be introduced with the team's starting lineup.
A WIN WOULD
A win on Saturday would snap a four-game skid, the team's longest of the season. It would also mark the team's first conference win of the year and improve the team's home record this season to 7-3.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
UMass Lowell's six-game November homestand marked 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 6-3 record this season, the River Hawks have accumulated a 119-67 mark in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04. Â
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The difference in the team's performance when playing at home vs. on the road this season has been apparent. The River Hawks are boasting a +6.9 scoring margin at home, compared to a -15.0 margin in road games. They are shooting 74.8 percent on free throws on their home court with a 66.1 percent clip away from home. The team has taken care of the ball at home too, with a +4.1 turnover margin compared to a -2.3 margin on the road.
PLAYING AT TSONGAS
UMass Lowell posted its most points scored in a game played at the Tsongas Center in a 98-78 win against Cornell on Nov. 19. The squad now owns a 5-13 all-time record in Tsongas after it's most recent 76-73 setback against CCSU on Dec. 23. Last season, the River Hawks finished 1-4 in games played at the arena, including a 77-75 win against BU on Dec. 21. In 2015-16, the team earned their first ever Division I victory in the building on Nov. 18 with a 87-84 victory against Sacred Heart. Previously, the program earned victories against Division II NE-10 rival Merrimack in 2010 (71-70) and 2011 (68-66).
LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt-junior
Josh Gantz registered a career-high 19 points in an 84-73 setback for UMass Lowell at Hartford on Jan. 10. The contest, which was tied a total of six times, was even for the final time at 72-72 inside of five minutes to go when Hartford rallied with a 12-1 run to secure the outcome. Gantz matched a personal best with four three-pointers, while adding a game-high three blocks. Redshirt-senior
Jahad Thomas tied season highs with eight assists and four steals, in addition to tallying 16 points, and sophomore
Rinardo Perry chipped in with 13 points.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 15 games,
Jahad Thomas is pacing the River Hawks with 19.0 points and 7.7 rebounds. He also boasts team-best marks for assists (50) and steals (26). Senior
Matt Harris (13.3),
Rinardo Perry (10.8) and junior
Ryan Jones (10.5) round out the team's scorers in double-digits.
Josh Gantz, who is shooting 49.0 (48-98) from the field, is first with 18 blocks. As a team, the River Hawks are shooting 45.7 percent (397-869) from the field, 35.3 percent (110-312) from long range and 71.7 percent (253-353) from the foul line.
SCOUTING UMBC
The Retrievers, who are currently 11-7 overall and 2-1 in America East action, head into Saturday's contest after defeating Maine, 72-67, on the road on Jan. 10. Jairus Lyles leads four double-digit scorers for UMBC with 20.0 points per game. Arkel Lamar, who chips in with 13.3 points, is pacing the team with 7.1 rebounds per game and 11 total blocks. Additionally, K.J. Maura boasts 80 assists so far this season. As a team, UMBC is shooting 43.1 percent (471-1093) from the field and 66.3 percent (234-353) from the foul line.
SCOUTING NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Wildcats sit at 6-11 overall in 2017-18 with a 2-1 mark in America East play. UNH won its last two outings, taking a 64-61 decision against UAlbany on Jan. 6 before downing Binghamton, 71-67, on Jan. 10. Tanner Leissner is the lone Wildcat averaging in double-digits with 19.6 points per game. Iba Camara adds 9.9 points per game with a team-best 10.8 rebounds per game, while Jordan Elijah is first on the team with 61 assists and 10 steals. As a unit, UNH is shooting 41.5 percent (411-990) from the floor, 35.8 percent (156-436) from three-point range) and 78.5 percent (237-302) from the line.Â
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GAINS FOR GANTZ
Josh Gantz has come on strong as of late. After averaging 5.5 points per game through the first eight games of the year, he has averaged 11.3 in the last seven, including a career-high 19 points at Hartford on Jan. 10. Additionally, 26 of his 36 assists and 11 of his 15 threes this year have come in the most recent seven outings. His field goal percentage has also improved from 42 percent (17-41) to 54 percent (31-57).
SWEET SPOT
The River Hawks are ranked third in the conference for free throws made (253) and fourth for free throw percentage (71.7)Â through 15 games. Individually,
Matt Harris is 33rd in the nation with an 88.7 percent clip (47-53) from the line, while Harris (vs. BU, 12.13) and
Obadiah Noel (at Wagner, 12.5) have each drained a season-high 11 free throws in a single game.
OFFENSIVE STATE OF MIND
The River Hawks continue to boast a powerful offense, as they are first in the conference right now with an average of 77.1 points per game and fourth with a 45.7 field goal percentage.
Jahad Thomas (19.0) and
Matt Harris (13.3) rank fourth in the league among scoring duos with an average of 32.3 points per game.
SOPHOMORE STRIDES
Rinardo Perry has made great strides in his game during his second campaign with the River Hawks. The guard, who shot 35 percent from the floor for 4.3 points per game as a rookie, is now averaging 10.8 points with a 44 percent clip from the floor. With a total of 13 three-pointers all of last season, the sophomore already has 16 in 2017-18.
BLOCK PARTY
The River Hawks are currently averaging their most blocks per game (3.3) since 2012-13 (3.4). They are also third in the America East right now, led by
Josh Gantz with 1.2 per game.
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