BOSTON, Mass. – UMass Lowell men's basketball junior guard
Obadiah Noel (Frederick, Md.) was tabbed America East Player of the Week following a strong start to conference play.
The junior captain turned in a career-high 27 points to lift the River Hawks to an exciting, 86-73 overtime victory at UMBC in their 2019-20 America East opener on January 4. Noel, who scored an impressive 25 points after the first half, shot 53 percent (8-15) from the field for the contest, while going 9-for-10 from the foul line.
Inside the final second of regulation, Noel converted on a pair of free throws to give the River Hawks the points they would need to survive a UMBC buzzer-beater and send the game into overtime tied at 66-66. He then added five points in the extra period, as UMass Lowell went on to outscore the Retrievers, 20-7, en route to the win.
Noel was also named River Hawk of the Week for his efforts. The "River Hawk of the Week" is chosen in voting by the UMass Lowell Athletic Communications staff. It honors the top athlete, male or female, based on performance during the previous week of competition.
This marks Noel's second America East Player of the Week nod this season. So far in 2019-20, the guard is averaging a personal-best 16.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game with 44 assists and 24 steals.
