Season In Review

3/30/2023 11:12:00 AM

Win a lot of games. Set a lot of records. Gain a lot of fans.

That was the recipe for success for the UMass Lowell men’s basketball team in 2022-23, as the River Hawks impressed night after night.

February 25, 2023, Lowell, MA:
The UMass Lowell Men’s Basketball team takes on the UNH Wildcats at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Saturday, February 25, 2023.
(Photo by Nick Grace/UMass Lowell Athletics)

There was a noticeable buzz on campus and throughout Lowell around our team. That was a special feeling.

- Head Coach Pat Duquette

The team compiled an astounding 26-8 overall record, setting new Division I program bests for wins and win percentage (.765), and marking the first 20-win season for the River Hawks since 2010-11. The River Hawks also collected a record 11 victories during America East Conference play to finish second in the league standings (11-5) and earn a home court advantage in the America East Playoffs for the first time ever en route to their second championship game appearance in three years.

“Record number of wins, record finish and another championship appearance – it was a historic year for our program,” said Duquette. “I’m happy for our seniors, especially, to go out on such a positive note because they had huge impacts on our program.”

Perhaps their most impressive feat, the River Hawks were unbeatable in Lowell in 2022-23, going a perfect, 17-0 on their home floors in Costello Athletic Center and the Tsongas Center. During the season, the team played in front of a sold out crowd at Costello for the first time at the DI level on January 22 against Bryant and set a new attendance record of 4,114 at Tsongas against New Hampshire on February 25.

“Between the sellout games and incredible home court environments, our players really appreciated the support and thrived at home this year. Going 17-0 was amazing,” added the veteran coach in his 10th season at the helm.

January 22, 2023, Lowell, MA:
The Umass Lowell Men’s Basketball team takes on the Bryant University Bulldogs at the Costello Athletic Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Sunday, January 22, 2023.
(Photo by Nick Grace/UMass Lowell Athletics)

March 4, 2023, Lowell, MA:
The UMass Lowell Men’s Basketball teams takes on the UMaine Black Bears in the America East Quarterfinals at the Costello Athletic Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Saturday, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Nick Grace/UMass Lowell Athletics)

It was apparent that something special was brewing for the River Hawks right out of the gate, picking up decisive wins in the first week of action against Fisher and Ivy League opponent Columbia, while taking Big Ten foe Rutgers down to the wire in a 73-65 clash.

UML 85, UMASS 80 - RECAP

From there, the team strung together a Division I program-best, nine-game win streak that included the River Hawks’ first win of the DI era against in-state rival Massachusetts on December 8. Senior Ayinde Hikim (Washington, D.C.) tallied a career-high 23 points in that one, as UMass Lowell staved off a late retaliation attempt by the Minutemen.

UML 68, BU 60 - RECAP

The River Hawks later knocked off Boston University, 68-60, on Dec. 21 with the help of 21 points from senior Abdoul Karim Coulibaly (Bamako, Mali) to finish non-conference action at 12-2, good for another DI program best.

UML 67, NJIT 64 - RECAP

Although it was tough to win on the road in the America East this season, the River Hawks opened conference play with a 67-64, come-from-behind decision at NJIT on Dec. 31. Despite trailing by 10 with under four minutes remaining, graduate student Mikey Watkins (Roselle, N.J.) recorded a season-high 15 points, as the River Hawks scored the final 13 of the contest to prevail.

UML 92, UNH 55 - RECAP

Home wins against Vermont, UMBC and Bryant highlighted the January schedule, but it was the performance in February that really established the team as a threat. The River Hawks went 7-1 in the month of February, including 4-0 to end the regular season. The team defeated New Hampshire, 92-55, in the Senior Night finale that featured 16 points and 12 rebounds from Coulibaly.

Earning the No. 2 seed and the right to host in the America East Playoffs for the first time, the River Hawks topped No. 7 Maine, 85-54, in the quarterfinal round on March 4. UMass Lowell then squared off against No. 3 UNH for the second time in 10 days, when graduate student Allin Blunt (Crownsville, Md.) registered a game-high 19 points to lift his side to a thrilling, 75-64 victory in front of a raucous capacity crowd.

UML 59, UVM 72 - RECAP

The River Hawks found themselves one game away from March Madness for the second time in three years, visiting No. 1 Vermont to decide the 2023 America East Championship on March 11. It was an incredibly close battle the whole way and featured 15 lead changes between the league's top two teams. The Catamounts pulled ahead for the final time on a three ball at 12:36 in the second, and although the River Hawks were still within a bucket at the nine-minute mark thanks to a trey from junior Yuri Covington (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), the home team used three jumpers from beyond the arc of their own down the stretch to secure the outcome.

Despite the outcome, River Hawk Nation showed their support in Burlington, just as they had all season long.

The River Hawks shattered their previous Division I program record for rebound margin, finishing +8.4 in 2022-23. Other UMass Lowell Division I program records set this season included greatest margin of victory (+65 vs. Fisher, 11/7/22), greatest margin of victory against a DI opponent (+37 vs. New Hampshire, 2/25/23) and best start to a season (11-1).

As a team, UMass Lowell finished the regular season atop the league standing in 10 different statistical categories and closed out its 2022-23 run ranked in the top 20 in the nation in four categories, including rebound margin (4th, +8.4), scoring margin (14th, +12.1, field goal percentage (15th, 48.4%) and three-point percentage (15th, 38.1%).

Duquette capped off the historic season with both America East and NABC District I Coach of the Year honors. He was also selected as a finalist for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award.

Graduate student Everette Hammond (Silver Spring, Md.), who was named to the America East All-Conference First Team, paced the team with 13.6 points per game, while Coulibaly, who was tabbed to the league’s Second Team, added 11.4 points and a team-best 7.6 rebounds per game with eight double-doubles. Hikim led the River Hawks with 116 assists and 37 steals, and chipped in with 10.7 points per game. Blunt rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10.6 points per game on his way to surpassing 1,000 career points and garnering America East Third Team accolades. Junior Max Brooks (Waldorf, Md.) led the America East with 61 blocks and was named to the league’s All-Defensive Team.

November 7, 2022, Lowell, MA:
The Umass Lowell Men’s Basketball team takes on the Fisher College Falcons at the Costello Athletics Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Monday, November 7, 2022.
(Photo by Nick Grace/UMass Lowell Athletics)

November 16, 2022, Lowell, MA:
The Umass Lowell Men’s Basketball team takes on the Sacred Heart Pioneers at the Costello Athletic Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
(Photo by Nick Grace/UMass Lowell Athletics)

We wish our seniors good luck in their future endeavors and thank them for their leadership and contributions. We are excited about the core group of talented players we have returning and looking forward to competing for another championship next year.”

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