January 25, 2024, Lowell, MA:
The Umass Lowell men’s basketball team takes on the Vermont Catamounts at the Costello Athletic Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Thursday, January 25, 2024.
(Photo by Nick Grace/UMass Lowell Athletics)

Season in Review: River Hawks Make Another Deep Postseason Run

4/12/2024 9:04:00 AM

Another impressive year is in the books for UMass Lowell men’s basketball, cementing the River Hawks among the top America East Conference competitors.

December 16, 2023, Lowell, MA:
The UMass Lowell Men’s Basketball team takes on the CCSU Blue Devils at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Saturday, December 16, 2023.
(Photo by Nick Grace/UMass Lowell Athletics)

The team compiled a 22-10 overall record to surpass the 20-win milestone for the second consecutive season. The River Hawks stayed consistent in conference play, as well, matching last year’s program-record 11 America East victories and second-place finish. The 2023-24 season culminated with the squad’s third appearance in the America East Playoffs championship game in the last four years.

Another tremendous season for our program. We overcame lots of adversity and injuries and made it to our third championship game in four years. After having won 48 games in two years, we are even more excited about next season and returning four of our top five scorers.

- Head Coach Pat Duquette

Mar. 12, 2024; Lowell, Massachusetts, USA; during an America East semifinal between Bryant and UMass-Lowell held at Costello Gym. Photo by Brian Foley for Foley Photography.

With a non-conference schedule heavy on road games and a conference schedule where every single game matters, the River Hawks knew they needed to be an excellent road team right from the jump. They took care of business right out of the gate, going 5-1 to open the season, picking up four of those victories as part of a six-game road trip.

The River Hawks made noise around the college basketball landscape in November after coming seconds away from sweeping a pair of Power 5 opponents in a span of three days. The team first defeated ACC foe Georgia Tech, 74-71, on Nov. 14, when despite trailing by seven with 12 minutes to play, UMass Lowell fought back to lead by as many as 11 down the stretch before a last-second block from senior Max Brooks (Waldorf, Md.) helped seal the program’s second ever win against a Power 5 squad. Two days later, the River Hawks led Arizona State for over 38 minutes of action and went up by as many as 12, but a fast-break in the last seconds gave the Pac-12 opponent the 71-69 decision.

River Hawks called GAME!! ??

UMass Lowell stuns ACC foe Georgia Tech on the road to start 3-0 for the first time at the DI level!

RECAP: https://t.co/7plUjdvQp4 #UnitedInBlue | #AEHoops pic.twitter.com/2OYIEfLWoT
— UMass Lowell MBB (@RiverHawkMBB) November 15, 2023

UML 71, BU 63 - RECAP

Late in the non-conference portion, the River Hawks visited in-state foe Boston University of the Patriot League and held off a late rally by the home team to earn a 71-63 victory. Senior Yuri Covington (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) tallied a season-high 28 points with a career-high seven threes in that outing to help propel the team to the decision that ignited a seven-game win streak from Dec. 22 to Jan. 20, good for the second longest in DI program history behind a nine-game span during the early part of the 2022-23 season.

That streak included a hot, 5-0 start to America East play, good for another program best. The first three of those games, at New Hampshire, and at home against NJIT and UMBC, were all decided by eight points or less, but the River Hawks showed their resiliency.

UML 97, UALB 76 - RECAP
UML 80, BING 60 - RECAP

The team closed out that winning stretch with a sweep of its New York conference foes on the road. UMass Lowell first battled to a 97-76 victory at UAlbany, when despite being separated by just two-possessions with under 10 minutes remaining, the River Hawks outscored their hosts, 26-9 the rest of the way led by senior Ayinde Hikim (Washington, D.C.), who totaled 23 points on the night. The squad then used the momentum to cruise to an 80-60 win at Binghamton thanks to 17 points from both senior Quinton Mincey (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and junior Cam Morris III (Alexander City, Ala.).

Taking care of business on the road was a theme for the season, as UMass Lowell was the first team in the nation to reach 10 road wins. The 10 wins away from home also set a new DI program record, improving upon the nine from last season. Additionally, in league play, the River Hawks went 5-3 away from home, compared to earning just three league road wins last season.

UML 86, BRY 77 - RECAP

Probably the most pivotal road win of the season came at Bryant on February 17. The two sides went back-and-forth the whole way with 10 lead changes on top of 15 stalemates before the River Hawks pulled away in the final two minutes for the 86-77 win. Senior Yuri Covington (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) shot 4-for-5 from beyond the arc en route to a game-high 27 points.

UMass Lowell Men’s Basketball takes on Bryant in the America East Semifinal at Costello Gymnasium in Lowell, Massachusetts on March 12, 2023
(Photo by Leanna Puccio/Umass Lowell)

UML 89, BRY 67 - RECAP

That win kicked off a thrilling, four-game win streak that the River Hawks used to clinch second place in the conference standings. The team first defeated both UAlbany and Binghamton at home to sweep those series before coming out on top in its second intense clash with Bryant in less than two weeks. Mincey logged a then-career-high 26 points to help lift the team to the 89-67 victory.

For the second year in a row, the road to the Jersey Mike’s America East Playoffs championship game ran through Lowell. The home team would stay undefeated in Division I home playoff games, topping No. 7 UMBC in overtime, 94-89, and outlasting No. 3 Bryant, 77-70. Against UMBC, Mincey registered a career-high 27 points and 16 rebounds in a gritty, back-and-forth quarterfinal battle. The game contained a combined 27 tied scores and lead changes, but the River Hawks never trailed in overtime.

Then, facing Bryant for the third time in just over three weeks, the River Hawks needed to dig deep. Covington registered his third career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds to help the team put together a strong second half and come from behind to earn the right to advance.

UML 61, UVM 66- 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 2024 America East Championship on March 16. The game was a true display of the resilience of the league's top two teams, featuring 11 lead changes and five tied scores. The River Hawks led at halftime and multiple times in the second half, and although the home team took the lead for good halfway through the second, building up a 10-point margin, the River Hawks never backed down and used late buckets to make it a two-possession game. Morris III led the charge with 17 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth career double-double.

As a team, UMass Lowell finished the season atop the league standing in nine different statistical categories and ranked in the top 20 in the nation in six categories. Most notably, the River Hawks were an elite perimeter defense team, ranking third in the nation in three-point percentage defense (28.7%). The team was also dominate on the glass, finishing seventh in the country for defensive rebounds per game (29.31) and ninth for total rebounds per game (40.78). Additionally, the River Hawks averaged 80.0 points per game, setting a new Division I program record and marking the highest scoring average for any America East team since 2016-17. Finally, the team matched a DI program record with a 73.6% field goal percentage.

Three River Hawks garnered America East All-Conference honors following the regular season. Senior Max Brooks (Waldorf, Md.) 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, Hikim and 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.

Following the league’s title game, Morris III and Mincey were named to the America East All-Championship Team, and senior Anthony Blunt (Crownsville, Md.) received the league's Elite 18 Award for having the highest GPA of any student-athlete competing in the championship.

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