February 20 at Binghamton (7 p.m.)
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VESTAL, N.Y. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team, who is 11-16 overall and 5-7 in league games, makes the trek to Binghamton for its lone game of the week on Thursday, February 20 at 7 p.m.
A WIN WOULD
A win on Thursday would give the River Hawks a sweep of the season series against Binghamton. It would also mark UMass Lowell's seventh victory in its last eight meetings against the Bearcats. Additionally, it would give the team its longest win streak of the season (3 games). Â
LAST TIME OUT
Junior
Obadiah Noel turned in a game-high 25 points to help propel UMass Lowell to an exciting, 74-67 win at America East foe Hartford on Saturday. Although the River Hawks took the lead for good early in the second half, Hartford fought to make it just a two-point game with less than two minutes to play. However, graduate student
Christian Lutete responded with a crucial layup before Noel and freshman
Ron Mitchell converted at the line seven times in the final seconds to seal the outcome. Freshman
Connor Withers bested his season high for the second time this week with 20 points in the contest, while Lutete rounded out the double-digit scorers with 15. The River Hawk defense was the story of the game, though, forcing 14 turnovers and outrebounding the Hawks, 31-25.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 27 games,
Christian Lutete is leading the team with 19.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
Obadiah Noel follows with 18.4 points, and a team-best 46 steals and 77 assists.
Ron Mitchell adds 8.9 points, while
Connor Withers boasts a team-best 33 blocks, as well.
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
The Bearcats, who are in the midst of a six-game skid, are 8-17 overall and 2-10 in conference play. Most recently, the team fell, 76-48, at Vermont on Feb. 15. Sam Sessoms leads three double-digit scorers with 17.6 points per game, in addition pacing the team with 120 assists and 38 steals. George Tinsley, who adds 11.6 points per game, leads the team with an average of 7.8 rebounds and 28 blocks. As a unit, Binghamton is shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from long range.
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
The River Hawks are heating up at the right time, having won their last two games with just four to play in the regular season. The team has shot an average of 47 percent from the floor and 83 percent from the line in the last two games, while forcing an average of 14 turnovers.
LUCKY 7
With the win against Maine on Feb. 12, the River Hawks hit double-digit wins for the seventh consecutive season since the squad transitioned to Division I.
NOT WITHERING AWAY
Connor Withers is finishing out his freshman campaign strong, averaging 18.5 points last week, including a season-high 20 points at Hartford on Feb. 15 en route to his second America East Rookie of the Week nod this year.
CLOSING IN ON A MILESTONE
Christian Lutete needs just 49 more points to take over the top spot on the program's Division I record list for points in a season from
Jahad Thomas (570, 2017-18).
CONSISTENT IS HIS MIDDLE NAME
Ron Mitchell has not missed a free throw since Jan. 4 at UMBC. He has gone 19-for-19 at the line in his last 10 appearances.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
The River Hawks have been most successful this year when jumping out to an early advantage. The team is 9-2 so far when taking a lead into halftime.
PERFECT 10
Obadiah Noel logged 25 points at Hartford on Feb. 15 to surpass
Christian Lutete for the program's longest 10+ point streak at the Division I level (21 games).
SHARP SHOOTERS
The River Hawks, who are first in the league shooting 45.2 percent from the floor, have shot better than 45 percent on field goals 13 times this season, including a 59.3 percent clip against St. Francis Brooklyn. Two players are shooting over 50 percent individually.
BACK AND FORTH WE GO
The team is used to back-and-forth battles this season with 11 games featuring nine or more lead changes, most recently with nine at Hartford on Feb. 15. The River Hawks fought through a season-high 19 lead changes in the win against CCSU on Dec. 1.
FREE IS FOR ME
UMass Lowell set a new season high with 25 made free throws twice, most recently vs. Maine on Feb. 12. Against Hartford on Jan. 8, the team shot 89 percent from the charity stripe. After shooting 70 percent from the line during the non-conference schedule, the team is currently boasting a 75 percent clip during conference play.
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 18.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game this season, including a career-high 31 points at Stony Brook on Feb. 5, compared to 14.6 points and 3.5 rebounds last season. Additionally, he is currently shooting 40 percent from long range, as opposed to a 32 percent clip from last year.
STRONG OFFENSIVE CORE
The River Hawks, who returned 78 percent of their scoring from the 2018-19 team that set Division I program records for wins (15) and winning percentage (.469), are currently first in the league with 74.1 points per game.
HELPING HANDS
Jordyn Owens dished out a career-high nine assists at Maine (1.15) to set a new single-game best for the team this season. Obadial Noel paces the squad with 77 assists in 2019-20. As a team, the River Hawks are currently ranked first in the America East with 14.59 assists per game.
STEALING THE SHOW
After going more than a year without logging double-digit steals, the River Hawks have already done so in five games this season, most recently against UMBC on Feb. 8. The team is currently third in its conference with 7.15 steals per game.
NATIONAL NEWS
The River Hawks are ranked 41st in the nation for total assists (394). Individually,
Christian Lutete is ranked 20th for total points (522).
ROAD WARRIORS
The River Hawks recorded their most wins away from home during the Division I era last season (7). At 4-8 so far this year, the program has now accumulated a 104-149 road record since 2003-04. Â
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