January 4 at UMBC (1 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. - After a challenging non-conference slate, the UMass Lowell men's basketball team opens America East play at UMBC on Saturday, January 4. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.
A WIN WOULD
A win on Saturday would give the River Hawks their first win in the conference opener since 2017 and their fifth since joining the America East in 2013-14.
LAST TIME OUT
Graduate student
Christian Lutete posted 21 points in an 86-60 setback for UMass Lowell at No. 11 Michigan in the team's non-conference finale on Dec. 29. Lutete shot 57 percent (8-14) from the floor with a pair of threes in the outing. Junior
Obadiah Noel added 16 points with a team-best eight rebounds and three steals. Freshman
Ron Mitchell rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 15 games,
Christian Lutete is leading the team with 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
Obadiah Noel follows with 15.8 points and a team-best 23 steals.
Josh Gantz adds 9.0 points per game.
Jordyn Owens paces the squad with 42 assists, while Withers boasts a team-best 19 blocks.
SCOUTING UMBC
The Retrievers are 7-8 heading into conference play. The team wrapped up non-league action with an 89-57 win against Penn St.-York on Dec. 30. after falling at George Mason, 69-53, on Dec. 21. Three team members are scoring in double figures led by Darnell Rogers with 14.0 points per game. K.J. Jackson, who follows with 12.7 points, is first on the team with 51 total assists. Brandon Horvath rounds out the team leaders with 5.6 rebounds per game, five blocks and 15 steals. As a unit, UMBC is shooting 45 percent from the field and 32 percent from long range.
NEW AND IMPROVED NOEL
Obadiah Noel has taken yet another step in his game after a successful first two seasons. The junior captain is averaging 15.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game this season, compared to 14.6 points and 3.5 rebounds last season. Additionally, he currently shooting 43 percent from long range, as opposed to a 32 percent clip from last year.
RON A ROLL
After averaging just 3.8 points per game in his first five games, rookie
Ron Mitchell has come on strong with six double-digit performances in the last nine games for an average of 11.1 points during that stretch.
TWICE AS NICE
For the first time at the Division I level, the River Hawks had two players record a double-double against Boston University on Dec. 21, as
Christian Lutete picked up his third of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds, and
Ron Mitchell added the first of his career with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
SHARP SHOOTERS
The River Hawks, who are second in the league shooting 44.9 percent from the floor, have shot better than 45 percent on field goals seven times this season, including a 59.3 percent clip against St. Francis Brooklyn.
UNDER CONTROL
Prior to the start of the season, Coach Duquette said that a better assist/turnover ratio was a big goal for the team. So far, the River Hawks have followed through with taking care of the ball and are second in the league in that category (1.10).
BACK AND FORTH WE GO
The team is used to back-and-forth battles this season with seven games so far featuring nine or more lead changes, including a season-high 19 lead changes in the win against CCSU on Dec. 1.
STEALING THE SHOW
After going more than a year without logging double-digit steals, the River Hawks have already done so in three games this season, most recently at Loyola on Dec. 27. The team is currently second in its conference with 6.8 steals per game.
HELPING HANDS
Jordyn Owens dished out a personal-best seven assists against both CCSU (12.1) and Sacred Heart (12.4), setting a new single-game high for the team this season. Owens and Noel pace the team with 42 assists in 2019-20. As a team, the River Hawks are currently ranked second in the America East with 14.6 assists per game.
ROAD WARRIORS
The River Hawks recorded their most wins away from home during the Division I era last season (7). At 2-4 so far this year, the program has now accumulated a 102-145 road record since 2003-04. Â
NATIONAL NEWS
The River Hawks are ranked 41st in the nation for total assists (219). Individually,
Christian Lutete is ranked 17th for total points (294).
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