LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team (7-3) will play its first game Tsongas Center of the season when the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils come to town on Saturday, December 16.
A WIN WOULD
A win against CCSU would improve UMass Lowell's record to 8-3, good for the second-best start in the program's DI history. It would also keep the team undefeated on its home court for 21 straight games.
LAST TIME OUT
Senior
Max Brooks registered a team-best 17 points to help lead UMass Lowell to a 78-65 victory against Long Island University on Dec. 12 at Costello Athletic Center. Brooks shot 58% (7-12) from the floor and added seven rebounds in the win. Senior
Quinton Mincey chipped in with a season-high 14 points and grabbed eight boards. Senior
Ayinde Hikim and sophomore
Brayden O'Connor added to the offense with 13 points apiece, while junior
Cam Morris III rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points. Senior
Yuri Covington let the way on the glass with nine boards.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Four River Hawks are averaging double-digits, as
Ayinde Hikim leads the squad with 18.4 points per game. Behind him,
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly adds 12.8 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game, while
Max Brooks adds 10.6 points. Starting five of ten games, Cam Morris chips in 10.2 points alongside 5.2 rebounds. Picking up from where he left off last year as the primary playmaker, Hikim paces his squad with 51 assists, as well, while Brooks totals 18 blocks, so far.
BELIEVING IN SECOND CHANCES
Against LIU, the River Hawks grabbed a season-high 17 offensive rebounds that led to 21 second-chance points, which was also good for a season-best mark.
OWNING THE GLASS
Rebounding was not only the story of the game against LIU, but has been a major point of success all season. The River Hawks have surpassed 50 rebounds three times already this season, including twice in the last three games. The team's 55 rebounds vs. Fisher was the most in a game since grabbing 57 vs. MCLA on Dec. 11, 2021. UMass Lowell is currently 14th in the nation for rebound margin (+10.3).
LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD
In the victory against Fisher, the River Hawks exploded offensively, finishing with 117 points, marking the most points in a single game for UMass Lowell since 1995 when they scored 133 vs. Assumption. In the contest, the River Hawks also totaled 47 made field goals, surpassing the 45 field goal mark for the first time since 1977 (50, vs. Nichols).
IN THE RANKINGS
In the first NET rankings release of the year, the River Hawks made history with a ranking of 44th in the country. As of Dec. 10, they are ranked 89th, as the only America East team in the top-100.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The River Hawks finished the 2022-23 season with a perfect, 17-0 record at home, good for a new program best. With the 3-0 start at home in 2023-24, UMass Lowell owns the second longest active home win streak in the nation. The team also boasts a 166-94 record in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.
INSIDE JOB
The River Hawks' have relied on their scoring from down low early this season, with an average of 46.8 points per game coming from inside the paint.
PERIMETER POWER
Heading into this season, Coach Duquette said one of the most important keys to success for his team this year would be becoming an elite perimeter defense team. So far, so good, as the River Hawks are ranked third in the nation in three-point percentage defense.
TAKING IT TO THE CUP
After averaging 10.7 points last season,
Ayinde Hikim is boasting 18.4 points per game so far in 2023-24, good for second in the America East. He also leads the league with five, 20+ point games this year. He is the first River Hawk to average 18 points per game or more since
Obadiah Noel averaged 21.4 in 2020-21.
NOT WASTING TIME
The River Hawks have been quick to attack this season, leading at the half in seven of their ten games. The team is 6-1 when holding the advantage going into the locker room so far.
ON MY BLOCK
Max Brooks logged a season-high four blocks in the win at Georgia Tech on Nov. 14. He is currently 51st in the country with 18 total blocks. As a whole, the River Hawks are 57th in the nation in blocks per game.
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