Saturday, December 3 at Sacred Heart (2 p.m.)
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FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team (7-1) hits the road for a three-game trip starting with a rematch against Sacred Heart (5-3) on Saturday.
A WIN WOULD
A win against the Pioneers would improve UMass Lowell's record to 8-1, marking the program's best start since 2002-03. It would also mark the second win this season for the River Hawks against Sacred Heart. A win would extend the team's current streak to six games, tying the DI program record, as well.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Three River Hawks are averaging double-digit scoring, as
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly leads the way with 15.4 points per game, in addition to adding a team-best 9.9 rebounds per game. Right behind him,
Everette Hammond is averaging 11.6 points, while shooting 52% from the field.
Max Brooks adds 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, and paces the team with 17 blocks.Â
Ayinde Hikim has been the primary playmaker so far with 32 assists on the year.
LAST TIME OUT
Max Brooks recorded a team-high 17 points, and added three blocks and three steals, as UMass Lowell took down Merrimack, 77-51. Right behind Brooks, Hammond totaled 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting, including a team-best 3-for-5 from behind the arc. Rounding out the double-digit scorers was
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly, who recorded 14 points alongside a game-high 10 rebounds, good for his conference-best fourth double-double of the season. Defense played an important role in the River Hawks' victory, as the squad held the Warriors to 33.3% shooting from the field, while adding in 12 steals and five blocks.
GOING STREAKING
By securing the victory against Merrimack, the River Hawks have now won five straight, marking the team's longest win streak since 2017-18. The DI program record currently sits at six straight wins during the 2014-15 season. The win also moved the River Hawks to 5-0 at home, which is a program best at Division I since posting the same home start in 2018-19.
TWO-WAY PLAY
The River Hawks are proving to be more balanced than ever before, leading the America East on both ends of the floor in field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense.
RIM PROTECTION
The River Hawks are ranked second in the nation for rebounds per game right now.
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly ranks seventh in the country individually in offensive rebounds per game (4.00).
STEALING THE SHOW
The River Hawks have done a good job disrupting the opposition so far this year, averaging a DI program-best 9.1 steals per game.
Connor Withers leads the team with 15 takaways, including three in the win against Merrimack on Nov. 30.
SHARING IS CARING
Coach Duquette has said this is his deepest and most talented team yet. The River Hawks have boasted at least eight scorers in each of their first eight games, including 11 against Emerson. In the contests against Fisher and Emerson, the team totaled six, double-digit scorers for the first time since 2017-18 (at Maine, 1/31/18). At least four River Hawks have scored in double figures in five of the eight games.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Defense has been a huge point of emphasis for the program again this year. The team is currently 10th in the nation for field goal percentage defense and leads the America East in blocks per game.
SHARP SHOOTERS
The River Hawks, who shot a season-high 63.5% from the field in the win against Emerson, have outshot their opponents in every game this year. The team surpassed 50% shooting in six out of eight games so far, as well. The team is averaging 51.7% from the field to rank sixth in the nation.
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