Saturday, February 24 vs. New Hampshire (5 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mas. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team (23-7, 10-5 AE) concludes the regular season at home with a Senior Night clash against New Hampshire (13-13, 8-6 AE) on Saturday, February 25.
SENIOR CELEBRATION
The River Hawks will honor two seniors in a special pregame ceremony.
Everette Hammond has appeared in 61 career games as a River Hawk, averaging 11.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. In total, he boasts 1,697 career points, 287 assists and 150 steals. This season, he paces the team with 13.8 points per game and an 84% clip from the foul line. He totaled a season-high 29 points at Vermont on Feb. 11.
Allin Blunt owns the program record for games played with 142 so far. He has averaged 7.0 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in five years. Heading into today's contest, he totals 998 career points to rank seventh in Division I program history. His 178 assists put him on the program's DI top five list, as well. This season, he is averaging double-digit points for the second consecutive year with 10.4 per game.
A WIN WOULD
A win against the Wildcats would split the season series between the squads. It would also improve UMass Lowell's record to 24-7, extending the program record for wins in a season at the DI level. A victory would move the River Hawks to 11-5 in conference play, a new record for league wins at the DI level, as well. Additionally, the River Hawks' historic home record would finish at a perfect 15-0 in the regular season.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
With the results around the league on Wednesday, UMass Lowell secured the right to host for the first time ever in the Jersey Mike's America East Playoffs. The River Hawks will host a quarterfinal matchup on Saturday, March 4 at Costello Athletic Center. Final seedings and opponents will be decided after today's results.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Four River Hawks are averaging double-digits, as
Everette Hammond boasts 13.8 points per game on 45% shooting from the field. Right behind him,
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly adds 11.7 points, in addition to a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game. The primary playmaker this season,
Ayinde Hikim totals 107 assists with 10.6 points. Rounding out the double-digit scorers is
Allin Blunt, who chips in with 10.4 points with 1.6 3FGs per game.
Max Brooks adds 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and paces the team with 55 blocks. Â
LAST TIME OUT
Everette Hammond logged a game-high 19 points to help UMass Lowell fend off a late comeback attempt and seal a 75-70 road win at UMBC. Leading by 15 at the break, the River Hawks came out firing, tallying a quick eight points to take a commanding 55-32 lead with 17:25 on the clock. The Retrievers did not back down, putting together a 10-0 spurt in less than two minutes to carve away at the River Hawks' lead. After a 5-0 UMass Lowell burst, UMBC once again retaliated, this time with a 18-2 stretch to make it a one-possession game, 67-64, with 4:22 to play. Although Hammond and
Max Brooks combined to go 3-4 from the free throw line to double their lead, the Retrievers' Matteo Picarelli connected on a three to once again make it a one-basket game. However, Hammond nailed a timely triple of his own to keep UMass Lowell in front by six, and after three made free throws by UMBC,
Ayinde Hikim and Brooks secured the outcome at the foul line in the final seconds.
FABULOUS IN FEBRUARY
The River Hawks found their footing in conference play in the month of February, putting together a 6-1 record during the month so far after a 3-4 showing to start league action in January.
PLAYING AT TSONGAS
The River Hawks have only played one other game at the Tsongas Center this season, a 68-59 win against St. Francis Brooklyn on Dec. 10. The team is now 16-27 all time in Tsongas.
SEEING CLEARLY
Ayinde Hikim has a knack for finding the open man. With 107 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.
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 20-3 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 14-1 in games where they sink at least seven threes.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The River Hawks are 14-0 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 fourth-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 14-0 record at home so far, UMass Lowell is now 162-94 in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.
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 22 of their 30 games this season. The team surpassed 50% shooting in 13 out of 30 games so far, as well. The team is averaging 48.0% from the field to rank 25th in the nation.
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