AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team (3-6) hits the road for the annual Kennedy Cup matchup at in-state foe Massachusetts on Saturday, December 6 at 4 p.m.
A WIN WOULD
A win against the Minutemen would move the River Hawks to 3-6 all-time against Massachusetts, including two straight victories, and would improve UMass Lowell's record to 4-6 on the season.
LAST TIME OUT
Freshman
JJ Massaquoi registered 21 points, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (3-6) defeated Emerson (2-3), 90-67, on Saturday afternoon. Massaquoi shot 8-for-11 from the floor as part of a River Hawk squad that finished with a 57% clip on the day. Junior
Jared Frey added 18 points with a perfect, 8-for-8 effort from the line. Senior
Austin Green and freshman
Victor Okojie each chipped in with double-doubles in the outing, as Green logged 15 points and 11 boards, while Okojie totaled 15 points and 10 rebounds.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Through nine games,
JJ Massaquoi leads the way with 14.6 points per game, with
Austin Green right behind him with 13.9 points and a team-high 7.2 rebounds.
Xavier Spencer, who ranks fourth with 8.2 points per game, adds a team-high 31 assists, while
Shawn Simmons II boasts 11 blocks to sit first on the team.
SPREADING THE LOVE
The River Hawks have boasted four double-digit scorers on five occasions this year, most recently in the win against Emerson on Nov. 29.
GAINING MOMENTUM
The River Hawks logged back-to-back wins last week for the first time during the 2025-26 season with a victory at Stonehill and against Emerson at home.
GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Rookie
JJ Massaquoi has stood out for the River Hawks in his first collegiate appearances, posting double-digit points in five of eight games so far, including leading the team with a personal-best 26 points at Wake Forest. He was also named America East Rookie of the Week on Nov. 24.
CAREER DAY
Shawn Simmons II and
Xavier Spencer both turned in career-best performances at Columbia, as Simmons II totaled 14 points and Spencer boasted 12 points and 12 assists for his first career double-double.
SHARP SHOOTERS
The River Hawks have found their groove, shooting at least 43% from the field in each of the last six games after averaging just 29% in the two previous games against UConn and New Haven. The team is now ranked third in the America East for field goal percentage.
FREE IS FOR FREY
Jared Frey is leading the way with a perfect, 24-for-24 effort from the charity stripe so far.
ROAD WARRIORS
The River Hawks will be challenged during the non-conference slate in 2025 with 10 road games on the docket, compared to just five home contests.
