LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team (8-4) is set for its final game of 2023, as the squad hosts Emerson on New Year's Eve at Costello Athletic Center to cap off non-conference action.
A WIN WOULD
A win against Emerson would improve UMass Lowell's record to 9-4, good for the second-best start in the program's DI history. It would also move the River Hawks to 2-0 all-time against the Lions.
LAST TIME OUT
Senior
Yuri Covington tallied a season-high 28 points, as UMass Lowell held off a late rally by Boston University to earn a 71-63 victory on the road on Dec. 22. Covington, who knocked down a career-high seven triples, was one of three double-digit scorers for the River Hawks. Right behind him, junior
Cam Morris III logged a personal-best 25 points alongside eight rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal. Senior
Ayinde Hikim chipped in with 10 points, as well.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Four River Hawks are averaging double-digits, as
Ayinde Hikim leads the squad with 17.0 points per game. Behind him,
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly adds 12.8 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game, while
Cam Morris III chips in 11.4 points alongside 5.8 rebounds.
Yuri Covington adds 10.5 points, as well. Picking up from where he left off last year as the primary playmaker, Hikim paces his squad with 60 assists, as well, while Brooks totals 21 blocks, so far.
SCORING STREAK
Ayinde Hikim tallied 10 points at BU on Dec. 22, marking his 12th straight game with double-digits. His streak is the first such double-digit scoring stretch for the River Hawks since
Obadiah Noel strung together a 43-game streak between 2019 and 2021.
HOT HAND
Yuri Covington had a breakout game at Boston University, sinking seven threes to mark the first time a River Hawk had done so since
Connor Withers hit nine in a playoff game at UMBC in 2021. Always the defender, though, Covington also added a personal-best five steals in the same outing.
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 five 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 27th in the nation for rebound margin (+8.6).
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).
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 owned the second longest active home win streak in the nation before it was snapped on Dec. 16th. The team also boasts a 166-95 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 43.2 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 second in the nation in three-point percentage defense.
TAKING IT TO THE CUP
After averaging 10.7 points last season,
Ayinde Hikim is boasting 17.0 points per game so far in 2023-24, good for third in the America East. He also is second in the league with five, 20+ point games this year. He is the first River Hawk to average 17 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 eight of their 12 games. The team is 7-1 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 56th in the country with 21 total blocks. As a whole, the River Hawks are 59th in the nation in blocks per game.
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