Saturday, January 28 at New Hampshire (1 p.m.)
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DURHAM, N.H. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team (17-5, 5-3 AE) finishes its two-game road trip with a matchup at New Hampshire on Saturday, January 28.
A WIN WOULD
A win against the Wildcats would improve UMass Lowell's record to 18-5, continuing the program's best start since 2002-03. It would extend the program record for wins in a season at the DI level to 18, as well. A win would also move the River Hawks to 6-3 in conference play, setting another Division I program record.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Two River Hawks are averaging double-digits, as
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly boasts 13.0 points, while adding a team-best 8.6 rebounds. Right behind him,
Everette Hammond adds 12.9 points per game on 44% shooting from the field. The primary playmaker this season,
Ayinde Hikim totals 87 assists with 9.9 points.
Max Brooks adds 9.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and paces the team with 40 blocks. Â
LAST TIME OUT
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly totaled 16 points alongside eight rebounds as UMass Lowell fell at Maine, 75-70. Coulibaly dominated in the paint early, scoring seven of the River Hawks' first 10 points, to give his squad an early three-point lead. However, the Black Bears quickly erased the deficit, going on a 10-2 burst to jump in front by five. After a triple by
Everette Hammond broke the scoring run up, Maine went on a 13-4 stretch to take a 30-19 lead, their largest of the night. Both teams continued to trade baskets, but the River Hawks closed the half with an 8-4 run to cut the Black Bears lead to four. Coming out of the locker room, UMass Lowell found its rhythm on offense, going on a 7-3 stretch that was ignited by a three from Blunt, to pull even with Maine. Minutes later, Hammond sank back-to-back baskets to kick-start another run, this time a 7-2 burst that put the River Hawks in front by one. With just over five minutes to play, Kristians Feierbergs connected on two straight threes to give Maine a seven-point advantage. The River Hawks continued to battle, cutting the lead down to five multiple times, but each time the Black Bears were able thwart off any further attacks, sealing the 75-70 decision.
ROAD WOES
The road is shaping up to be an unfriendly place in the America East this conference season, as all nine league schools have combined for a 10-22 record on the road so far.
THE THREE IS KEY
Three-point shooting has proven to be key to the River Hawks' success so far, as the squad is 11-0 in games where they sink at least seven threes.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
The win against Bryant on Jan. 22 was the 17th victory for the team this season, extending the new Division I program record for total wins in a 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. 24 in the most recent release.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The River Hawks are 11-0 at home so far, which is a new program record, besting the 10-0 home start from the 2002-03 season. That record also marks the second-best perfect home record in the nation, as well. Additionally, the team earned its ninth consecutive win in a home opener in 2022-23. With the 11-0 record at home so far, UMass Lowell is now 159-94 in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.
ROCKING CLUB COSTELLO
For the first time at the Division I level, the River Hawks played in front of a sellout crowd at Costello Athletic Center.
ALL ABOUT THE BIGS
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly and
Max Brooks combined to go 22-for-28 from the field with 44 points against UMBC on Jan. 18. Coulibaly set a new career high with 24 points, while Brooks boasted a season-best 20 points.
HELPING HANDS
The River Hawks logged a season-high 23 assists in the win against UMBC on Jan. 18. The team is currently second in the league with 15.0 assists per game. Individually, with his 11 assists against Sacred Heart on Nov. 16,
Ayinde Hikim set a new Division I program record after
Ryan Jones first logged 10 in 2018 vs. NJIT.
SHARING IS CARING
Coach Duquette has said this is his deepest and most talented team yet. Eight different River Hawks have already led the team in scoring this year, and six of those have led the team in scoring in at least two games. The River Hawks have also boasted at least eight scorers in 21 of their first 22 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 11 of the 22 games.
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