The UMass Lowell men’s basketball team turned in yet another competitive campaign in the 2024-25 season.

The River Hawks posted a 17-15 overall record, marking their third consecutive winning season, while notching six conference victories en route to an America East Quarterfinals appearance. 

UMass Lowell was strong from the jump, embarking on a 15-game non-conference start to the season that yielded many memorable wins, and a few razor-thin losses to some formidable competition. The River Hawks went 11-4 before opening conference play.

After dominating Rivier and pulling out an 81-74 win against Saint Peter’s to open the season in November, the River Hawks hit the road to battle a pair of fierce Power Four opponents in Gonzaga and Washington. Against a talented Huskies team on Nov. 17, UMass Lowell nearly formulated a comeback for the ages in Seattle, Wash. Fifth-year Yuri Covington (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) laced 19 points in the effort, as UMass Lowell raced to a 9-2 run to take the lead in the second half, but a late run from the hosts ultimately decided the back-and-forth thriller in the final minutes at Washington. 

UML 92, Dartmouth 83 - RECAP

The penultimate non-conference duel before America East action commenced offered just about everything to the fans at Costello Athletic Center on December 14 and fifth-year Max Brooks (Waldorf, Md.) had his name written all over the triumph. Totaling a team-high 26 points, Brooks helped the River Hawks overcome a double-digit deficit in the first half to escape with a thrilling win against the Big Green. Brooks was masterful in the paint in the win, shooting an NCAA season-best 12-for-12 from the field.

 UML 73, UALB 69 - RECAP

The River Hawks wrapped up a seven-game win streak with a thrilling victory at UAlbany to open America East play on January 4. Despite 14 lead changes and 11 tied scores, the River Hawks refused to back down. A basket by the opposition evened the score with 2:29 to go, but UMass Lowell locked down on defense, not allowing a point the rest of the way, setting up fifth-year Quinton Mincey (Upper Marlboro, Md.) for the game-winning basket with 29 seconds remaining.

UML 70, NJIT 62 — RECAP

UML 97, UNH 80 — RECAP

UMass Lowell pieced together another conference win against NJIT on Jan. 11 with the help of 26 points from Somerville. The River Hawks nursed a three-point lead late into the game, but timely treys from Mincey and Somerville provided the team with the necessary cushion to outlast the Highlanders. And after falling in the subsequent pair of conference games — including an overtime heartbreaker to Vermont — the River Hawks got back to their winning ways in a decisive, 97-80 victory against New Hampshire on Jan. 25. A total of five River Hawks amassed double-digit scoring totals in this one, headlined by a 22-point outburst from Brooks. The River Hawks outscored UNH, 37-23, late in the second half in front of a sold-out crowd at Costello.

UML 98, UMBC 79 — RECAP

Brooks netted a season-high 30 points and shot an efficient, 13-for-16 from the field to lead his side to victory. Mincey and Somerville yielded impressive showings, as well, both registering double-doubles. Mincey pitched in with 24 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, while Somerville tallied his first career double-double with 18 points and a new Division I single-game program record 13 assists.

The River Hawks had many high notes during the season, but an extremely talented America East conference and parity throughout the league made closing out games difficult. Four of the team’s final five losses of the regular season were decided by just two points or less, as the team took the No. 6 seed for the America East Playoffs.

UML 64, MAINE 72 – RECAP

Just four days after their last visit, the No. 6 River Hawks were back in Orono to face the No. 3 Black Bears in the quarterfinals of the America East Playoffs. Fifth-years Brooks and Mincey shined in their final career outing, registering 25 and 23 points, respectively, but an 11-0 run from Maine down the stretch resulted in the 72-64 outcome.

UMass Lowell finished atop the America East standings for field goal percentage (49.7%) and ranked third in points per game (79.5). 

Individually, Brooks led the nation in field goal percentage (.705) and paced the conference in blocked shots (85). Meanwhile, Mincey led the conference in minutes played with an average of 36.0 per game. Mincey was also a top-three scorer in the league with 16.8 points per game. 

Four River Hawks garnered all-conference honors. Brooks garnered his second straight All-Conference First Team selection, while also being recognized on the All-Defensive Team for the third consecutive season. Brooks posted career-best numbers this season, averaging 15.6 points and 7.8 rebounds to go along with his nation-leading 70.5 field goal percentage. Adding 85 blocks, he cemented himself as the new all-time program record holder for career blocks with 303. He also took over the all-time program record for career games played and the Division I program record for rebounds.

Somerville was named America East Rookie of the Year after setting a true-freshman Division I program record with 13.9 points per game at UMass Lowell. He also earned a slot on the All-Rookie Team after setting a new conference best with 11 Rookie of the Week nods.

Mincey was tabbed to the All-Conference Second Team for the second time and to the NABC All-District Second Team thanks to the best season of his career, while Anthony Blunt was selected to the America East All-Academic Team.