Saturday, March 4 vs. No. 7 Maine (4 p.m. - ESPN+)
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LOWELL, Mass. - The No. 2 seeded UMass Lowell men's basketball team (24-7) will host a Jersey Mike's America East Playoffs game for the first time ever when they take on No. 7 Maine (13-16) in the 2023 quarterfinal round on Saturday, March 4 at Costello Athletic Center.
A WIN WOULD
A win against the Black Bears would advance the River Hawks to the America East Playoffs Semifinals for just the second time (2021). It would also improve UMass Lowell's record to 25-7, extending the program record for wins in a season at the DI level. Additionally, the River Hawks' historic home record would improve to 16-0 this year.
POSTSEASON HISTORY
This marks the River Hawks' sixth season eligible for the postseason at the Division I level. The team has qualified for the America East Playoffs in each of its eligible seasons, although it has never squared off against Maine in the tournament. UMass Lowell has advanced to the semifinals once (2021) and to the championship game once (2021). This is also the first time that the team has finished in the top four and earned the right to host a quarterfinal matchup. Previously, the team's highest seeding was at No. 5. The program is now 48-40 all time in post-season games.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
This is one of four quarterfinal matchups on Saturday. The four quarterfinal winners will square off in the semifinals on Tuesday, March 7 at the two highest remaining seeds. The bracket will be re-seeded with the highest-remaining seed hosting the lowest-remaining seed and the second-highest remaining seed hosting the second-lowest remaining seed. The championship game will then be held on Saturday, March 11, once again at the highest-remaining seed's home court.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Four River Hawks are averaging double-digits, as
Everette Hammond boasts 13.7 points per game on 45% shooting from the field. Right behind him,
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly adds 11.8 points, in addition to a team-best 8.0 rebounds per game. The primary playmaker this season,
Ayinde Hikim totals 110 assists with 10.7 points. Rounding out the double-digit scorers is
Allin Blunt, who chips in with 10.3 points with 1.5 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
Four River Hawks scored in double-figures, as UMass Lowell rolled to a statement, 92-55 victory against New Hampshire at the Tsongas Center on Feb. 25.
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly logged a game-high 16 points and 12 rebounds to pace the River Hawks.
Ayinde Hikim added 12 points, while
Everette Hammond and
Cam Morris III chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively, to round out the double-digit scorers. As a team, UMass Lowell forced 17 turnovers and took a 23-3 edge on points off turnovers. The River Hawks also shot 58.5% from the field in the contest as a unit and outscored UNH, 58-24, in the paint.
WELCOME TO OUR HOUSE
After a historic regular season that propelled the River Hawks to second in the conference, UMass Lowell is hosting an America East Playoffs game for the first time. The last time the team hosted a post-season game, the River Hawks took down Le Moyne College in the first round of the NE-10 Tournament at Costello Athletic Center during the 2012-13 season.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The River Hawks finished the regular season with a perfect, 15-0 record at home, good for a new program best, surpassing the 10-0 home start from the 2002-03 season. That record also marks the third-best perfect home record in the nation, as well. With the 15-0 record at home so far, UMass Lowell is now 163-94 in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.
FABULOUS IN FEBRUARY
The River Hawks found their footing in conference play in the month of February, putting together a 7-1 record during the month after a 3-4 showing to start league action in January.
QUITE THE CROWD
The River Hawks played in front of a record crowd at Tsongas against UNH on Feb. 25, as 4,114 members of River Hawk Nation filled the stands.
JOINING THE CLUB
In the final game of the regular season and Senior Night, fifth-year forward
Allin Blunt connected on his first jumper of the evening to join the 1,000 Career Point Club. He becomes the second River Hawk to surpass 1,000 career points this season after
Mikey Watkins converted on back-to-back three pointers in the second half against Emerson earlier in the year to also reach the milestone.
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 21-3 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 15-1 in games where they sink at least seven threes.
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 17 votes in the most recent rankings.
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 23 of their 31 games this season. The team surpassed 50% shooting in 14 out of 31 games so far, as well. The team is averaging 48.3% from the field to rank 19th in the nation.
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