University of Massachusetts Lowell
Rivier
10/31/2026 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
LOWELL, Mass. – A new season of UMass Lowell men's basketball is right around the corner, as the River Hawks prepare to tip off their 2026–27 campaign. UMass Lowell will open the season against Rivier University at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex on Monday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
For the second consecutive season, Head Coach Pat Duquette and his staff have been tasked with building a new-look roster. After finishing fourth in the America East standings last season and advancing to the conference semifinals, the River Hawks return just three players from last year's squad. Despite the significant turnover, Duquette is excited about the potential of his new group.
"I didn't anticipate that we would lose just about everybody from last year," said Duquette. "I was hoping to keep some of that core group together because we ended up finishing well. I thought we really grew as the season went on, but it's a new world, so I really enjoyed putting this team together with my staff. I thought we did a good job. We were a little more strategic, a little more intentional in building the pieces and fitting the pieces together."
Coming off a season that saw the River Hawks improve throughout conference play, Duquette hopes to build on that momentum with a roster that combines experienced transfers, returning players and a promising freshman class.
"I really like our approach and the results, and I think we've got a good team," explained Duquette. "It's exciting to have so many new guys and then to try and blend it together. We still got a long ways to go, but I really enjoyed the process. It was fun."
The River Hawks will welcome back three familiar faces in senior Jerrell Roberson II (Upper Marlboro, Md.), sophomore Victor Okojie (Castlebar, Ireland) and redshirt sophomore Isaiah Walter (Central Coast, Australia). The trio will look to provide leadership and familiarity with Duquette's system as the program introduces its newest additions.
The incoming group features experienced transfers Jakai Newton (Covington, Ga.), Kenyon Giles (Cleveland, Ohio), Christian Jones (Houston, Texas), Donovan Hand (College Park, Ga.) and Jayden Harris (Dumfries, Va.).
UMass Lowell also welcomes four freshmen in Jasiah Cannady (Prince George's County, Md.), Max Ellis (Long Beach, Calif.), Elhadji Diallo (Dakar, Senegal) and Jaden Flemons (San Antonio, Texas).
Duquette is particularly excited about the potential of his freshman class, which he believes can make an immediate impact.
"Our freshman class is good. It's probably, on paper coming in, as highly rated of a freshman class as we've been able to recruit," commented Duquette. "I like having a hybrid approach where you bring some transfers in and then you supplement it with freshmen. And we've got some freshmen that are ready to play."
While the River Hawks continue to establish their identity, Duquette believes the team's size, athleticism and depth will be among its biggest strengths.
"We're big and we're athletic. Probably the biggest team I've had across the board," said Duquette. "We've got big wings. We've got depth in our front court."
The added depth has allowed Duquette to experiment with an expanded rotation during preseason scrimmages, something he hopes will benefit the River Hawks throughout the year.
"I'm happy with our depth right now," explained Duquette. "We're healthy, first of all, and I think it's important to have that depth so that you can overcome some injuries and some foul trouble. We haven't always had that. I'm playing 10 or 11 guys in our scrimmages, so I'd like to continue to do that."
With so many new faces, building chemistry and establishing roles have been among the coaching staff's biggest priorities throughout the offseason. Duquette understands that the process will take time, particularly with the challenges that come with a demanding non-conference schedule.
"You've got maybe five months to blend this thing together, and build some type of chemistry and define roles," said Duquette. "You've got to set expectations, and they've got to understand your style and how you want to play, so I think that's one of the biggest challenges, is to be patient. To keep working, but to be patient, understanding that you're gonna be better in February and March than you are in October and November."
The 2026–27 schedule will test the River Hawks early, with several challenging non-conference matchups. Following the season opener against Rivier, UMass Lowell will travel to Merrimack on Nov. 5 before returning home to face Marist on Nov. 8.
The River Hawks will also face Massachusetts (Nov. 11), Cincinnati (Nov. 22), Georgetown (Dec. 2) and Boston College (Dec. 5) on the road. Additionally, UMass Lowell will participate in the Capital Thanksgiving Classic in Washington, D.C., with matchups against Hampton, American and Radford.
Duquette believes that facing difficult opponents early in the season will help prepare his team for the challenges of America East competition.
"I think the more challenging the schedule, the more room for growth," said Duquette. "But you have to find a balance, obviously, where you want guys to get confidence and you want to win some games along the road, but our players love playing those high-major teams, too. It's good for them. They enjoy it and it brings great exposure for the school, obviously."
2026-27 Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Following the non-conference slate, UMass Lowell will begin America East play on Saturday, Jan. 2, when the River Hawks host New Hampshire at the Tsongas Center. The team will then travel to Vermont on Jan. 7 before returning home to face Bryant on Jan. 9.
With another season of change ahead, Duquette knows that success will depend on his team's ability to handle adversity, remain patient and continue improving as the season progresses.
"I think one of the big keys to success is to handle the adversity early and not get frustrated by it," explained Duquette. "We've got to be able to play through some losses and handle some adversity, and then continue to be positive and keep building."
As the River Hawks prepare for another challenging campaign, Duquette hopes his team will continue to embody the quality he believes has defined the program throughout its Division I history.
I think resilient is the first word that comes to mind when I think of this program. The school and the city of Lowell and our transition from Division II to Division I, and the obstacles that we faced, I think that we've been a resilient program over the years, and I'm proud of that.Head Coach Pat Duquette
