Saturday, January 14 at Binghamton (2 p.m.)
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VESTAL, N.Y. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team (15-3, 3-1 AE) heads out on its longest trek of the conference season to visit Binghamton (6-10, 2-1 AE) on Saturday, January 14.
A WIN WOULD
A win against the Bearcats would improve UMass Lowell's record to 16-3, continuing the program's best start since 2002-03. It would set a new program record for wins in a season at the DI level, as well. A win would also move the River Hawks to 4-1 in conference play, another Division I program record.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Three River Hawks are averaging double-digits, as
Everette Hammond leads the way with 12.6 points per game on 45% shooting from the field. Right behind him,
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly averages 12.3 points, while adding in a team best 8.2 rebounds. The primary playmaker this season,
Ayinde Hikim totals 77 assists with 10.6 points.
Max Brooks adds 8.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and paces the team with 37 blocks. Â
LAST TIME OUT
Allin Blunt and
Ayinde Hikim totaled 18 points each, as UMass Lowell took down Vermont, 80-65. Also scoring in double-digits were
Everette Hammond and
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly, who tallied 17 and 10, respectively. Trailing 18-16 with just over seven minutes to play in the first half,
Ayinde Hikim hit a shot from behind the arc, sparking a 20-4 run for the River Hawks to close out the half. As a part of that stretch, Blunt rattled off eight straight points for the River Hawks, including sinking two straight three point attempts. The hosts picked up where they left off to start the second, going on an 11-2 spurt, ignited by back-to-back long balls from Blunt and Hikim. However, Vermont stepped up to the challenge, using a 20-7 run to cut the UMass Lowell lead down to 10 with eight minutes to play. Over the next six minutes of action, the two teams traded baskets, but with 2:26 to play, Hammond drilled two treys, creating too large of a lead for the Catamounts to overcome.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
The win against Vermont on Jan. 11 was the 15th victory for the team this season, tying the Division I program record for total wins in a season with another 13 games still to go in the regular season.
CRACKING THE RANKINGS
The River Hawks were ranked in the Mid-Major Top 25 for the first time ever during the week of Dec. 12 when they moved into the No. 25 spot. Up as high as No. 17 during the week of Jan. 2, the team checked in at No. 19 in the most recent release.
STARTING STRONG
The River Hawks reached 10 wins this season faster than they have in any season since the 2002-03 campaign when they won 14 in a row to open the year. This is the first time the River Hawks started conference play at the top of the standings. Additionally, the team has started AE Hoops action 2-0 just twice previously, in 2016-17 and 2014-15.
FROM DOWNTOWN
The River Hawks turned in their best performance from long range this season to earn just their second win in the last 13 meetings against the Catmounts on Jan. 11. The team, which sunk 13 threes on 59.1% shooting against Vermont, now leads the league with a 39.4% clip from beyond the arc in 2022-23, including at least eight threes in eight of their 18 contests. While
Ayinde Hikim went a perfect, 4-for-4 from three-point territory against Vermont,
Yuri Covington has drained a team-best 29 threes this year.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The River Hawks are 9-0 at home so far, which is good for another program best at Division I and is the program's best home start since going 10-0 during the 2002-03 season. Additionally, the team earned its ninth consecutive win in a home opener in 2022-23. With the 9-0 record at home so far, UMass Lowell is now 157-94 in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.
CALM UNDER PRESSURE
The River Hawks have trailed in the second half in just four of their wins so far this year, each time putting their resiliency and maturity on display. Most recently, the team trailed by 10 at NJIT on Dec. 31 with less than four minutes to play before mounting a last-minute comeback.
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 17 of their 18 games this season. The team surpassed 50% shooting in nine out of 18 games so far, as well. The team is averaging 49.9% from the field to rank eighth in the nation.
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