{"id":50851,"date":"2022-01-08T06:16:53","date_gmt":"2022-01-08T11:16:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ngscsports.com\/?p=50851"},"modified":"2022-01-08T06:27:16","modified_gmt":"2022-01-08T11:27:16","slug":"umass-lowell-river-hawks-head-south-for-league-tilt-at-umbc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ngscsports.com\/2022\/01\/08\/umass-lowell-river-hawks-head-south-for-league-tilt-at-umbc\/","title":{"rendered":"UMass Lowell River Hawks Head South for League Tilt at UMBC"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BALTIMORE, Md. –<\/strong>\u00a0The UMass Lowell men’s basketball team will visit UMBC<\/a> for a rematch of the 2021 America East Championship semifinals on Saturday.<\/p>\n A WIN WOULD<\/strong> LEADING THE FLOCK<\/strong> LAST TIME OUT<\/strong> TIPPING POINT<\/strong> CONTROLLING THE BOARDS<\/strong> PUTTING UP A FIGHT<\/strong> THREAT ON THREES<\/strong> DEFENSE WINS GAMES<\/strong> SHARING IS CARING<\/strong> SHARPSHOOTERS<\/strong>
\nA win against the Retrievers would mark the first conference win for the River Hawks this season. It would also give the River Hawks three victories in the last four meetings of the series.<\/p>\n
\nKalil Thomas<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0is averaging 11.4 points per game to pace the squad.\u00a0Max Brooks<\/a><\/dfn>, who adds 10.1 points, boasts a team-best 6.0 rebounds per game and 23 blocks.\u00a0Justin Faison<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0adds 38 assists, while\u00a0Everette Hammond<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0totals 23 steals.<\/p>\n
\nAyinde Hikim<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0posted a team-high 15 points, as UMass Lowell faced a 77-72 setback against NJIT on January 6. The contest featured 11 lead changes, but the Highlanders took the lead for good with 10 minutes remaining, and even though the River Hawks were within a bucket with less than four minutes to go, a trio of threes down the stretch helped seal the decision for the visitors. Hikim, who went 5-for-7 from the foul line, led five double-digit scorers.\u00a0Max Brooks<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0and\u00a0Kalil Thomas<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0added 14 points apiece, while\u00a0Allin Blunt<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0and\u00a0Justin Faison<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0chipped in with 13 and 11, respectively.<\/p>\n
\nStarting off with the ball in their hands has proved to be a recipe for success for the River Hawks this year, as the team is 8-1 so far when winning the tip.<\/p>\n
\nIncluding the NJIT game, the River Hawks have outrebounded opponents seven times. The team currently owns a DI program-best rebound margin (+2.6) and is first in the America East for offensive boards per game (11.5).<\/p>\n
\nSo far, three of the team’s six losses, including its two conference losses at Binghamton (13) and against NJIT have featured double-digit lead changes.<\/p>\n
\nFor the second time this season,\u00a0Kalil Thomas<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0sunk a personal-best five made three-pointers at Binghamton en route to a career-high 21 points. He is shooting almost 40% from beyond the arc this year to rank fourth in the conference.<\/p>\n
\nThis year, Coach Duquette has made defense a huge point of emphasis for his program, which typically leads the America East in several offensive categories. So far, the River Hawks have only allowed more than 57 points six times this season and are first in the league in FG% defense. The team held Fisher to an all-time program-low 38 points on Nov. 27.<\/p>\n
\nThe performance against MCLA on Dec. 11 featured a program-record seven, double-digit point scorers. 10 of the team’s 14 games so far have featured eight or more point scorers, including five games with at least 10 scorers.<\/p>\n
\nThe River Hawks, who have ranked in the top two in the America East in shooting percentage for the previous three years, are currently third in the league with a 44.8% clip.\u00a0Max Brooks<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0is pacing the conference, shooting 63.7% from the field.<\/p>\n