February 5 at Stony Brook (7 p.m.)
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February 8 vs. UMBC (4 p.m.)
Live Stats | Watch Live | Game Notes (PDF)
LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team, who is 9-14 overall and 3-5 in league games, will be visit Stony Brook on Wednesday, February 5 before welcoming UMBC to Tsongas for Team IMPACT Day on Saturday, Feb. 8.
TEAM IMPACT DAY
On Saturday, UMass Lowell celebrates Team IMPACT Day to recognize the graduation of their honorary teammate Nathaniel Fortes. Team IMPACT is a Boston-based nonprofit whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Eight-year-old Nathaniel officially joined the men's basketball team on November 1, 2016 during a special Draft Day event. He was diagnosed with Kawasaki's disease when he was six months old. Kawasaki's is a disease where the blood vessels throughout the body become inflamed, impacting many parts of the body. He also has neutropenia, making him more susceptible to bacterial infections. Since joining the team, Nathaniel has enjoyed attending many games. His River Hawk teammates have also visited him at school and at his birthday party.
A WIN WOULD
A win on Wednesday would split the 2019-20 series against the Seawolves. It would also mark the River Hawks' second consecutive win. A win would give the River Hawks their first victory against Stony Brook since 2018, as well. Â
LAST TIME OUT
Led by graduate student
Christian Lutete with a game-high 23 points, UMass Lowell outlasted New Hampshire, 77-75, to wrap up the first half of the America East slate on Feb. 1. Although UMass Lowell led for over 35 minutes and by as many 17 points in the contest, the Wildcats made a late stand, using a 13-3 run to knot the score at 75-75 with just seven seconds on the clock. The River Hawks took advantage of a crucial foul on their final possession, though, as Lutete sealed the victory with a pair of free throws to get his team back in the win column following a four-game skid. Junior
Obadiah Noel added to the offense for the home team with 21 points and three steals.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 23 games,
Christian Lutete is leading the team with 20.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
Obadiah Noel follows with 17.7 points and a team-best 35 steals.
Ron Mitchell adds 8.9 points and
Jordyn Owens paces the River Hawks with 70 assists.
Connor Withers boasts a team-best 28 blocks, as well.
SCOUTING STONY BROOK
The Seawolves are 15-8 so far this season, including a 6-2 mark in America East play. The team is coming off a 74-63 win against UMBC on Feb. 1. Elijah Olaniyi leads the team with 19.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He also adds a team best 51 assists this season. Andrew Garcia, who adds 12.6 points per game, chips in with 34 steals to rank first on the squad, while Mouhamadou Gueye totals 52 blocks. As a unit, SBU is shooting 42.2 percent from the field, including 35.5 percent from long range.
NEW DIGS
UMass Lowell unveiled a brand new men's basketball suite in the Tsongas Center on Jan. 29. The 2,000 square foot space includes a student-athlete locker room, a team lounge and meeting room, in addition to a coaches' meeting space and changing area.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
The River Hawks have been most successful this year when jumping out to an early advantage. The team is 7-1 so far when taking a lead into halftime.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
Including the two-point win against New Hampshire on Feb. 1, the River Hawks have won two games this year by five points or less. Since beginning 2014-15, 32 of the squad's 67 wins have been decided by seven points or less, including the 77-75 victory against UNH on Feb. 1. 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
SHARP SHOOTERS
The River Hawks, who are first in the league shooting 46.0 percent from the floor, have shot better than 45 percent on field goals 12 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 nine games featuring nine or more lead changes, most recently with 12 against Stony Brook on Jan. 29. The River Hawks fought through a season-high 19 lead changes in the win against CCSU on Dec. 1.
ANOTHER ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED
Obadiah Noel surpassed the 1,000 career points milestone with a jumper at 4:35 in the second half at UAlbany on Jan. 22. He becomes the program's seventh player to join the 1,000 Point Club at the Division I level, and the first to do so as a junior.
FREE IS FOR ME
UMass Lowell set a new season high with 25 made free throws at UMBC. In the next game, the team shot 89 percent from the charity stripe against Hartford. After shooting 70 percent from the line during the non-conference schedule, the team is currently boasting a 73 percent clip during conference play.
SEEING 20/20
Christian Lutete has been locked in offensively, putting together a seven-game stretch of 20+ points performances from Dec. 27-Jan. 22, which matched the program's longest such streak at the Division I level (first set by
Jahad Thomas). He now has 14, 20+ points games this season.
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 17.7 points and 5.0 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.
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 first in the league in that category (1.1).
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. Owens paces the squad with 70 assists in 2019-20. As a team, the River Hawks are currently ranked first in the America East with 14.78 assists per game.
A THREAT ON THREES
The River Hawks drained a season-best 12 threes at Maine on Jan. 15. The team is currently second in the America East from three-point range (34.5%).
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 five of the team's losses so far have been by six points or less. Three of those games were decided on the final possession.
NATIONAL NEWS
The River Hawks are ranked 39th in the nation for total assists (340). Individually,
Christian Lutete is ranked 12th for total points (480).
ROAD WARRIORS
The River Hawks recorded their most wins away from home during the Division I era last season (7). At 3-7 so far this year, the program has now accumulated a 103-148 road record since 2003-04. Â
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