January 8 vs. Hartford (7 p.m.)
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January 11 vs. Binghamton (5:30 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team will play its first America East Conference home games of the season this week, beginning on Wednesday evening, January 8 against Hartford at 7 p.m. The River Hawks will then welcome Binghamton to Tsongas on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 5:30 p.m.
A WIN WOULD
A win on Wednesday would match the River Hawks' best start in America East play (2-0) for the fourth time in seven years. It would also mark the team's fifth win in its AE home opener since joining the league. A win would give UMass Lowell its first home win against Hartford since 2017, as well. Â
LAST TIME OUT
After a buzzer-beating three sent the back-and-forth battle into overtime, UMass Lowell exploded in overtime, outscoring UMBC, 20-7, to secure a gritty, 86-73 victory in the squad's America East opener on Jan. 4. Graduate student
Christian Lutete hit a clutch three in the final seconds of regulation before junior
Obadiah Noel and graduate
Josh Gantz converted at the line to give the visitors a three-point lead, but K.J. Jackson erased the difference as the buzzer sounded to send the game into overtime at 66-66. However, freshman
Ron Mitchell opened the extra period with a bucket, which sparked a 10-4 run that put the River Hawks ahead for good. Noel registered 25 points after the first half en route to a career-high 27 to lift his team to the win. Lutete added 20 points, while Mitchell turned in his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
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LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 16 games,
Christian Lutete is leading the team with 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
Obadiah Noel follows with 16.5 points, and a team-best 24 steals and 44 assists.
Josh Gantz adds 9.1 points per game.
Connor Withers boasts a team-best 19 blocks, as well.
SCOUTING HARTFORD
The Hawks are 8-8 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The team opened its America East slate with a 61-52 win against New Hampshire on Jan. Malik Ellison paces the team with a double-double average of 14.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Three other Hawks are scoring in double figures, including Hunter Marks (11.7 ppg), who adds nine blocks this year, Michael Dunne is first on the squad with 67 assists and 35 steals. As a unit, Hartford is shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from long range.
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
The Bearcats are 7-8 overall and 1-1 in conference play, following a 74-62 setback in their America East opener at UAlbany on Jan. 4 and a 79-75 victory against UMBC on Jan. 8. Sam Sessoms leads four double-digit scorers with 19.3 points per game, in addition pacing the team with 66 assists and 24 steals. Pierre Sarr, who adds 10.1 points per game, leads the team with an average of 8.1 rebounds and George Tinsley totals 19 blocks. As a unit, Binghamton is shooting 42.0 percent from the field and 33.7 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, who set a new career high with 27 points at UMBC on Jan. 4, is averaging 16.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game this season, compared to 14.6 points and 3.5 rebounds last season. Additionally, he is currently shooting 44 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 two double-doubles in the last four games and seven double-digit performances in the last 10 games for an average of 11.3 points during that stretch.
OVERTIME OFFENSE
The River Hawks went off in overtime to defeat UMBC on Jan. 4, shooting 86 percent from the field, including 67 percent from beyond the arc, in the final five minutes to outscore the Retrievers, 20-7. That goes down as the second most overtime points in program history behind only a 21-point showing at Maine (2/11/16).
SHARP SHOOTERS
The River Hawks, who are second in the league shooting 44.8 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.
FREE IS FOR ME
UMass Lowell set a new season high with 25 made free throws at UMBC. During that contest, the team shot 86 percent from the charity stripe in the second half and 78 percent for the game.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
Since beginning 2014-15, 31 of the squad's 65 wins have been decided by seven points or less. The team has also trailed in the second half in 37 games during that same time frame before battling back to earn the victories.Â
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 6.9 steals per game.
CLOSING IN ON A MILESTONE
Two more River Hawks are closing in on the prestigious 1,000 Point Club, including
Josh Gantz, who need 116 more points.
TOUGH TO BEAT
Even when the games haven't fallen their way this season, the River Hawks have proven they are a tough opponent to face, as four of the team's losses so far have been by five points or less. Three of those four games were decided on the final possession.
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.
Obadiah Noel paces the team with 44 assists in 2019-20. As a team, the River Hawks are currently ranked second in the America East with 14.8 assists per game.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
This season, UMass Lowell has a record 17 home games, including an eight-game homestand. With its sixth consecutive win in a home opener this season and a 4-5 record during non-conference play, the team is now 134-81 in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.
PLAYING AT TSONGAS
For the first time ever, all of the River Hawks home conference games will be played at Tsongas, as the team will play record 11 games in the arena this year. With a victory against CCSU in the team's Tsongas debut for 2019-20 and sitting at 1-2 in the building this year, the team is now 9-21 all time in Tsongas.
