March 3 at UMBC (1 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team In their first year of Division I postseason eligibility, the River Hawks are ready for their America East Championship debut in a quarterfinal matchup at UMBC on Saturday.
TOURNAMENT TIME
With the win against Maine on Feb. 21, the River Hawks officially clinched a berth into their first ever America East Championship in their first year of post-season eligibility. After tiebreaking procedures against New Hampshire, the squad was seeded seventh and is set to play No. 2 UMBC in the quarterfinals. All games in the America East Championship will be hosted at the home sites of the highest seeds.
A WIN WOULD
A win on Saturday would mark the River Hawks first ever America East Championship win. It would also give the squad its first win against UMBC this season. A victory would improve the squad's overall record to 13-17, setting a new program record for single-season, Division I wins.     Â
POSTSEASON HISTORY
Although the River Hawks are making their first DI postseason appearance, the program a history of success in the playoffs. The squad is 45-35 all time in postseason games.
THANK YOU SENIORS
Matt Harris and
Jahad Thomas, who have both already etched their name in the UMass Lowell record book, were honored in a special pre-game ceremony on Feb. 21. Harris not only owns the program's Division I record for three-pointers made, but is also ranked third on the school's all-time record list with 230. Also a consistent scorer from the foul line, the guard sits second in school history with an 87 percent clip on free throws. Thomas totals the seventh most points in school history with 1,846 and is fourth all-time with 846 rebounds. The guard/forward owns nine Division I program records, in addition to sitting on the school's All-Time Top 10 lists for seven categories, ranking as high as third with a 55.6 field goal percentage.
LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt-senior
Jahad Thomas logged a career-high 40 points to lead UMass Lowell to a 92-77 win at New Hampshire on Feb. 27. Thomas, who recorded a personal-best 15 field goals, was joined in double figures by junior
Ryan Jones, who posted 18 points on the night. Sophomores
Rinardo Perry and
Connor Bennett added to the offense with 11 points apiece. Freshman
Obadiah Noel grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds, as well.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 29 games,
Jahad Thomas is pacing the River Hawks with 21.2 points and 8.1 rebounds. He also boasts team-best marks for assists (103) and steals (46).
Matt Harris (12.5) and
Ryan Jones (10.9) round out the team's scorers in double-digits.
Josh Gantz, who is shooting 49 percent (91-186) from the field, is first with 31 blocks. As a team, the River Hawks are shooting 46.2 percent (766-1659) from the field, 34.8 percent (208-598) from long range and 70.3 percent (469-667) from the foul line.
SCOUTING UMBC
The Retrievers, who are currently 21-10 overall, finished second in the America East with 12-4 record. The squad closed out the regular season with a 62-53 win at Hartford on Feb. 27. Jairus Lyles leads four double-digit scorers for UMBC with 20.3 points per game. Arkel Lamar, who chips in with 10.6 points, is pacing the team with 5.8 rebounds per game and 17 total blocks. Additionally, K.J. Maura boasts 148 assists so far this season. As a team, UMBC is shooting 44.1 percent (802-1817) from the field and 38.8 percent (319-822) on three-pointers.
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
Jahad Thomas was named to the America East All-Conference First Team for the second consecutive year, while
Obadiah Noel garnered All-Rookie Team accolades.
REWRITING HISTORY
Jahad Thomas' 40-point performance at UNH not only set a Division I record for UMass Lowell, but also marked the most points in a single game for the school since Nov. 29, 1981 (John Paganetti vs. N.H. College, 46).
CONSISTENTLY CONSISTENT
With the win at UNH, the River Hawks have tied the program's Division I single-season record for wins (12). Additionally, with this year's sixth place finish in the league's regular-season standings, the team has now placed at least sixth during all five years in the league.
DID YOU KNOW...
The River Hawks are 10-6 this season when
Matt Harris scores 11 points or more, but only 2-11 when he scores 10 points or less.
STAYING IN THE GAME
Even in games that have not fallen their way, the River Hawks have made it interesting. Seven of the River Hawks' losses this year have included at least five lead changes and three have had at least 11. Additionally, the squad is an even 7-7 in games decided by 10 points or less.  Â
A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION
Now in their first year of full DI eligibility, the River Hawks look back on a successful four-year transition period. Of the most recent 15 men's basketball programs to make the move to Division I, the squad finished second in APR (967). Additionally, UMass Lowell ranked fifth out of the most recent 25 transitioning schools in wins (40) during its four-year reclassification. Â
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 76.2 points per game and second with a 46.2 field goal percentage.
DOUBLING UP
Jahad Thomas logged double-digit points and rebounds in three consecutive outings from Jan. 27-Feb. 8, marking the second time in his career with three double-doubles in a row. He totals a personal-best nine double-doubles this season with 24 in his career.
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 9.3 in the last 21, including a career-high 19 points at Hartford on Jan. 10 and at Binghamton on Jan. 21. Additionally, 57 of his 67 assists, and 25 of his 29 threes this year have come in the most recent 21 outings. His field goal percentage has also improved from 42 percent (17-41) to 51 percent (74-145).
SWEET (AND SOUR) SPOT
The River Hawks are ranked third in the conference for free throws made (469) and fourth for free throw percentage (70.3) through 29 games. Individually,
Matt Harris is second in the league with an 86.5 percent clip (77-89) 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. Although the team hit a mid-season rough patch, shooting just 61.9 percent at the line in the 10 games between Dec. 23 and Jan. 27, they have made the most of opportunities lately, with a 73.8 percent clip in the last eight outings.
HELPING HANDS
One key to the River Hawks' balanced scoring has always been their ability to share the basketball, as witnessed by the team's season-high 20 helpers dished out against CCSU on Dec. 23 and against Hartford on Jan. 27. The squad is second in the America East rankings with 14.4 assists per game.
UNDER CONTROL
With 13.7 turnovers per game, the River Hawks have been doing their best to take care of the ball this season. The team is second in the league with a +1.31 turnover margin.
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