Thursday, January 5 vs. Maine (6 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team (13-2, 1-0 AE) hosts its first America East game of the season when the squad welcomes Maine (6-7, 0-0 AE) to Costello Athletic Center on January 5.
A WIN WOULD
A win against the Black Bears would improve UMass Lowell's record to 14-2, continuing the program's best start since 2002-03. A win would also move the River Hawks to 2-0 in conference play, their best start since the 2016-17 season. Additionally, it would make UMass Lowell 8-0 at home for the first time at the DI level.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Three River Hawks are averaging double-digits, as
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly leads the way with 13.0 points per game, while adding a team-best 8.6 rebounds. Behind him,
Everette Hammond averages 12.1 points on 44% shooting from the field. The primary playmaker this season,
Ayinde Hikim totals 61 assists with 10.1 points.
Max Brooks adds 9.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, and paces the team with 28 blocks. Â
LAST TIME OUT
Mikey Watkins recorded a season-high 15 points as UMass Lowell took down NJIT in its first conference game of the 2022-23 campaign. Trailing by four, the River Hawks put together a 16-1 run to create a double-digit lead late in the first half. However, NJIT did not give in, and opened the second half on a 13-3 run to regain the upper hand. The teams continued to go back and forth, but the Highlanders slowly pulled away. Although NJIT led by 10 with under four minutes to play, the River Hawks continued to battle, using a 9-0 run that was capped off by a jumper from Watkins to cut the lead to just one with less than two minutes remaining. As time ticked under a minute, the River Hawks pressed on defense, forcing a dangerous pass by the Highlanders that was intercepted by
Ayinde Hikim, who then went coast-to-coast for the go-ahead basket with 26 seconds to go. Following a miss by NJIT on the other end,Â
Max Brooks converted on a pair of free throws to seal the victory. Hikim led the squad with four steals alongside his 12 points, while Brooks added 10 points and six rebounds.
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.
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. In the most recent rankings, the River Hawks continued to move up, reaching the No. 17 spot.
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 five of those have led the team in scoring in at least two games. The River Hawks have also boasted at least eight scorers in each of their first 15 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 seven of the 15 games.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The River Hawks are 7-0 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. The team earned its ninth consecutive win in a home opener in 2022-23. With the 7-0 record at home so far, UMass Lowell is now 155-94 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 every game this year. The team surpassed 50% shooting in eight out of 15 games so far, as well. The team is averaging 50.1% from the field to rank 10th in the nation.
TWO-WAY PLAY
The River Hawks are proving to be more balanced than ever before, leading the America East, as well as ranking top-10 nationally on both ends of the floor in field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense.
RIM PROTECTION
The River Hawks are ranked 11th in the nation for defensive rebounds per game right now.
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly ranks 31st in the country individually in offensive rebounds per game (3.31).
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