Jersey Mike's #AEPlayoffs Central
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LOWELL, Mass. - The No. 2 seeded UMass Lowell men's basketball team (20-9) will open the postseason against the No. 7 UMBC Retrievers in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 Jersey Mike's America East Playoffs on Saturday, March 9 at Costello Athletic Center.
A WIN WOULD
A win against UMBC would advance the River Hawks to the America East Playoffs semifinal round for the third time in four years. It would also move UMass Lowell to 21-9 on the season, while marking the fifth straight win over the Retrievers. A win would give the River Hawks their sixth ever #AEHoops Playoffs win, as well, while also keeping the team undefeated in home playoff games at the DI level (3-0).
POSTSEASON HISTORY
This marks the River Hawks' seventh 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. This will be the fourth time the River Hawks have faced UMBC in the playoffs with the Retrievers holding a sight, 2-1 edge. This marks UMass Lowell's second consecutive No. 2 seed after previously only being seeded as high as No. 5. The team has appeared in the championship game twice in the last three years. The team is currently 2-0 in home America East Playoff games after earning the right to host for the first time last year.
LAST TIME OUT
Junior
Cam Morris III totaled 22 points and 10 rebounds. as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team fell in the final minutes at Maine, 71-65, in the regular-season finale on March 5. Morris III, who recorded his third double-double of the season, was one of three River Hawks to reach the double-digit mark. Sophomore
Brayden O'Connor finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists, while senior
Quinton Mincey chipped in with 13 points, as well. On the glass, senior
Ayinde Hikim finished with a career-best 11 boards.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Five River Hawks are averaging double-digits, as
Ayinde Hikim leads the squad with 14.8 points per game. Behind him,
Quinton Mincey adds 14.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while
Max Brooks chips in 13.1 points alongside a team-high 7.5 boards.
Cam Morris III contributes 10.9 points and 5.9 rebounds, while
Yuri Covington rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.2. As the primary playmaker, Hikim paces his squad with 152 assists and 54 steals, while Brooks totals 62 blocks, so far.
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
Max Brooks became the third River Hawk ever named to the America East All-Conference First Team, as well as earning his third consecutive nod for the league's All-Defensive Team. Additionally,
Ayinde Hikim and
Quinton Mincey were named to the All-Conference Second Team. Rounding out the awards, Mincey was also named the Sixth Man of the Year, marking the second ever America East major award for the UMass Lowell program after Head Coach
Pat Duquette earned Coach of the Year honors in 2022-23.
SCORING POWER
UMass Lowell is currently 40th in the nation, averaging 80.3 points per game, the highest scoring average for any America East team since 2016-17 when UMBC averaged 81.1 ppg.. UAlbany is currently second in the league at 78.9 ppg. The last time two teams averaged 80+ ppg in the America East was the 1986-87 season (Northeastern & Siena).
PERIMETER PROTECTION
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 fourth in the nation in three-point percentage defense.
FREE IS FOR ME
The River Hawks are not wasting free opportunities this year, as the team is currently leading the America East with a DI program-best 74.2 free throw percentage so far. The team made a season-high 36 free throws against UAlbany on Feb. 24, one game after going a conference season-best 90.3% from the line against Binghamton on Feb. 22.
CLOSING IT OUT
With the America East more competitive than ever, the River Hawks know no game will be an easy one. Seven of the team's ten conference wins so far have been separated by just two possessions within the final 10 minutes, and four of those games were decided by eight points or less.
SEEING 20/20/20
Against Binghamton on Feb. 22,
Yuri Covington,
Max Brooks and
Quinton Mincey became the first 20-point scoring trio for the River Hawks in a single game since Jan. 22, 2017 vs. UMBC. In the next game against UAlbany on Feb. 24, the River Hawks did it again, this time with
Max Brooks,
Quinton Mincey and
Ayinde Hikim leading the team.
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SHARP SHOOTERS
As a team, the River Hawks are shooting 47.9% from the field (31st nationally) after surpassing 48% shooting in 14 of 29 games so far. Individually,
Max Brooks ranks 11th in the nation in field goal percentage at 63.2%. In 15 #AEHoops games, he boasts a 64.6% field goal percentage, while averaging 15.3 points.
OWNING THE GLASS
Rebounding has been a major point of success all season, as the River Hawks are the top-ranked rebounding team in the America East. The River Hawks have reached 50 rebounds four times this season, including three times over a six-game stretch. 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 21st in the nation for rebound margin (+6.8).
SHARING IS CARING
Scoring can come from many different threats on any night for the River Hawks. The team has boasted at least four double-digit scorers in nine of its 16 league games so far, including a season-best six, 10+ point scorers at UAlbany.
Q THE MUSIC
Quinton Mincey started quite the stretch for himself since the non-conference finale vs. Emerson, establishing himself as a premier sixth man during conference play. He first set what was then a new career high for points (18) with a personal-best three, threes against the Lions and has since averaged a team-best 18.6 points during America East play, compared to just 8.6 points per game previously. His latest career high for points came against Bryant on Feb. 29 (26).
NOT WASTING TIME
The River Hawks have been quick to attack this season, leading at the half in 20 of their 29 games. The team is 18-2 when holding the advantage going into the locker room so far.
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