Wednesday, January 12 at UAlbany (ESPN3 - 7 p.m.)
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ALBANY, N.Y. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team will head to UAlbany for some mid-week America East action on Wednesday, January 12.
A WIN WOULD
A win against the Great Danes would even the River Hawks' conference record at 2-2 so far this year. It would also give the River Hawks three victories in the last four meetings of the series.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Kalil Thomas is averaging 11.2 points per game to pace the squad.
Max Brooks, who adds 10.3 points, boasts a team-best 6.2 rebounds per game and 23 blocks.
Justin Faison adds 41 assists, while
Everette Hammond totals 25 steals.
LAST TIME OUT
Ayinde Hikim went coast-to-coast for the buzzer beater that lifted UMass Lowell to its first America East victory of the season in come-from-behind fashion, taking down UMBC, 66-64, on the road on Jan. 8. Despite trailing by nine with only six minutes remaining, the River Hawks continued to battle, putting together a 17-6 run to end the game. With just about a minute left on the clock,
Kalil Thomas hit a big three before
Max Brooks erased the difference on the next possession and
Justin Faison followed with a pair of clutch free throws to give UMass Lowell its first lead since late in the first half. The Retrievers went on to knot the score at 64-64, giving the visitors the ball back with just four seconds on the clock, but it was enough time for Hikim, who found an open lane to race down the court and drop in a layup for the win.
TIPPING POINT
Starting off with the ball in their hands has proved to be a recipe for success for the River Hawks this year, as the team is 9-1 so far when winning the tip.
COMEBACK KIDS
With the performance at UMBC, the River Hawks have now trailed in the second half in five of their nine wins so far. This includes two, double-digit comebacks this season. After trailing by as many as 12 in the first half at GW, the team most recently erased a 14-point deficit at Merrimack.
CALM UNDER PRESSURE
In 2021-22, the River Hawks are 3-1 in games decided by five points or less.
CONTROLLING THE BOARDS
Including the NJIT game, the River Hawks have outrebounded opponents seven times. The team currently owns a DI program-best rebound margin (+2.0) and is first in the America East for offensive boards per game (11.3).
PUTTING UP A FIGHT
So far, three of the team's six losses, including its two conference losses at Binghamton (13) and against NJIT (11) have featured double-digit lead changes.
THREAT ON THREES
For the second time this season,
Kalil Thomas sunk a personal-best five made three-pointers at Binghamton en route to a career-high 21 points. He is shooting almost 40% from beyond the arc this year to rank fourth in the conference.
DEFENSE WINS GAMES
This year, Coach Duquette has made defense a huge point of emphasis for his program, which typically leads the America East in several offensive categories. So far, the River Hawks have only allowed more than 57 points seven times this season and are first in the league in FG% defense. The team held Fisher to an all-time program-low 38 points on Nov. 27.
SHARING IS CARING
The performance against MCLA on Dec. 11 featured a program-record seven, double-digit point scorers. 10 of the team's 15 games so far have featured eight or more point scorers, including five games with at least 10 scorers.
ON HIS BLOCK
Max Brooks, who tied a DI program record with four blocks against Rivier on Nov. 9, totals 23 so far this year. He leads the conference and is 76th in the country with 1.62 blocks per game.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
So far this year, UMass Lowell owns a 6-0 record when leading at halftime.
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