Saturday, February 18 vs. Binghamton (1 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. - Returning home after a three-game road trip, the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (21-7, 8-5 AE) is looking to continue their winning ways at home and split the regular-season series against Binghamton on Saturday, February 18.
A WIN WOULD
A win against the Bearcats would improve UMass Lowell's record to 22-7, extending the program record for wins in a season at the DI level. It would move the River Hawks to 9-5 in conference play, setting a new record for conference wins at the DI level, as well. Additionally, the River Hawks' historic home record would improve to 14-0.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Four River Hawks are averaging double-digits, as
Everette Hammond boasts 13.6 points per game on 45% shooting from the field. Right behind him,
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly adds 12.0 points, in addition to a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game. The primary playmaker this season,
Ayinde Hikim totals 102 assists with 10.5 points. Rounding out the double-digit scorers is
Allin Blunt, who chips in with 10.0 points with 1.6 3FGs per game.
Max Brooks adds 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, and paces the team with 53 blocks. Â
LAST TIME OUT
Everette Hammond recorded a game-high 25 points, as UMass Lowell pulled away late to take down Bryant, 85-71, on Feb. 15. With 3:52 to play in the contest, Bryant's Sherif Gross-Bullock hit a layup to pull the hosts within two for the second time in a minute. The River Hawks, however, responded immediately, scoring the next 11 points, capped off by a big-time three from Hammond and four straight points from
Ayinde Hikim, to create a 78-65 lead that was too much to overcome. Alongside his 25 points, Hammond collected a team-best seven rebounds. Hikim chipped in 21 points alongside five assists, while
Allin Blunt rounded out double-digit scorers with 10 points and six rebounds.
SEEING CLEARLY
Ayinde Hikim has a knack for finding the open man. With 102 assists so far, he becomes the first River Hawk to surpass 100 helpers in a season since Jahad Thomas dished out 107 in 2017-18. He totaled 11 assists against Sacred Heart on Nov. 16 to set a new Division I program record after
Ryan Jones first logged 10 in 2018 vs. NJIT.
HEATING UP
Everette Hammond recorded a season-high 29 points at Vermont on Feb. 11 and 25 points at Bryant on Feb. 15, marking the first back-to-back, 20-point games for a River Hawk this year.
STARTING STRONG
The River Hawks held UAlbany to just 16 first-half points on Feb. 1, good for a season low. A strong first half has been important to the team's success this season, as UMass Lowell in 18-3 when leading at the break.
THE THREE IS KEY
Three-point shooting has proven to be key to the River Hawks' success so far, as the squad is 13-1 in games where they sink at least seven threes.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
The win against Bryant on Feb. 15 was the 21st 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 received 11 votes in the most recent rankings.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The River Hawks are 13-0 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 13-0 record at home so far, UMass Lowell is now 161-94 in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.
SHARING IS CARING
Coach Duquette has said this is his deepest and most talented team yet. Nine different River Hawks have already led the team in scoring this year, and seven of those have led the team in scoring in at least two games. The River Hawks have also boasted at least eight scorers in 27 of their 28 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 12 of the 28 games.
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