UMass Lowell Returns Home and Defeats Fisher, 117-69

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It has been 28 days since the UMass Lowell River Hawks (6-2) played a basketball game at Costello Athletic Center. During that time, the team went 4-2 on a six-game road trip that saw them pick up a win versus a Power-5 team in Georgia Tech. On Tuesday night, the team returned home to face the Fisher Falcons (6-3). Placing six players in double-figures, the River Hawks easily handled the Falcons 117-69. The score was a very good indication of how the night went for the home team. They dominated from the opening tip and never let up until the clock struck zero.

Fisher scored the game’s first basket on a layup by Christian Finney that came off a UMass Lowell turnover 18 seconds into the game. It would be the only lead that Fisher would have on the night. The River Hawks would score the next ten points to take a 10-2 lead at the first media timeout. Fisher did not get to double-figures in scoring until the 7:53 mark of the first half on a basket by Jalen Anderson (10 points). At that point, the River Hawks had a 29-11 lead. They would take a 50-23 lead to the locker room. UMass Lowell scored 40 points in the paint and shot 62.2% from the field (23-of-37). If there was one flaw in their first half game, it would be the turnovers as they had 11 to only nine assists.

The second half was more of the same. It would take Fisher almost three minutes to score their first points of the half, a three-point basket by Brian Rios (13 points). By then the lead had ballooned to 38 at 64-26 for the River Hawks. Yes, it would hit the 50 mark with 41 seconds left in the game on a fast break dunk by Andres Fulgericio 117-66. The final ended up being 117-69. This was nothing more than a practice play under game conditions.

UMass Lowell put up 70 points in the paint, 47 off the bench. Everyone on the roster played with eleven of the twelve players scoring at least one basket. It was a fun and relaxing night on the court for the team. There will be a few of those as the season moves along. The team was led by Ayinde Hikim with 20 points and eight assists. His coach Pat Duquette liked his “overall floor game on Tuesday night.” This was Hikim’s fifth 20-point game of the season. On the just-completed trip, he crossed the 1,000-point barrier. He has reached double-figures in all eight games played by UMass Lowell. Max Brooks recorded his first double-double of the season (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Yuri Covington also had his first double-double of the year (12 points, 12 boards). Cam Morris III had 12 points, Brayden O’Connor with 12, Quinton Mincy with 10, and freshman Anthony Maxwell with 11 rounded out the River Hawks scoring.

For Fisher, Cross Bandy had 14 points, and Jad Reda with 11. The Falcons came into this game with a three-game winning streak. They were averaging 95.6 points a game. They were also giving up 95.6 points a game. The Falcons like to get up and down the court as evidenced by the fact that despite the lopsided score they still managed to put up 81 shots.

Afterward, Duquette said, “Great to be home.” The 28 days away from school was tough on the players. As Ayinde Hikim said afterward “We were away for a week which for some of the young players was the first time they had done that since maybe AAU ball.” The trip as a whole gave this team a chance to bond and get to know each other, which could be valuable when and if difficult times arise. Covington talked about the difficult environment the team played in on the trip and how that could help them during league play with some of the hostel buildings they will play in.

The River Hawks will not be home for long. On Saturday afternoon they will be in the Mullins Center to face UMass Amherst. Last season, the River Hawks went down there and came away with the victory. You can bet the Minutemen remember.