LOWELL, Mass. - The University of Maine men's basketball team stays on the road for another crucial conference game, as they travel to Lowell for their second matchup with the Riverhawks, as both teams bring a 3-7 conference record into the game with just six games left in the regular season.
Maine at UMass-Lowell
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GAME NOTES (PDF)
Date: Wednesday, February 12
th
Time: 7:00 PM
Site: Tsongas Center, Lowell, Massachusetts |
MORE INFO
SERIES HISTORY
Overall................................................UML, 10-5
Streak....................................................Maine, +1
Last 5 meetings......................................UML, 3-2
First Meeting..........................11/28/84, W, 86-63
Last Meeting...................1/15/20, W, 105-98 OT
MAINE LEADERS
Andrew Fleming, who has registered double-digit scoring totals in 17 of his 23 appearances, guides the Black Bears, ranking ninth in the America East with 15.3 points per game to go along with a team-high 6.2 rebounds. Sergio El Darwich joins Fleming in double-figures, adding 14.4points (10th in AE) and 5.1 rebounds, and sits fourth in the conference with 4.1 assists a game and second in the America East with 1.7 steals a game. Steph Ingo ranks fifth in the conference with 1.2 blocks a game.
A LOOK AT THE RIVERHAWKS
UMass-Lowell carries the league's most powerful offensive unit into today's matchup, as they lead the conference in a slew of offensive categories. They rank first in points per game (74.2), field goal percentage (45.0), and assists per game (14.6). They've posted a 9-16 record so far, and sit at 3-7 in America East with wins over UMBC, New Hampshire, and Binghamton.
The high octane Riverhawks offense runs through graduate student and Preseason All-Conference selection Christian Lutete. Lutete leads the conference and is 32nd in the nation with 19.9 points per game, while also leading the conference in field goal percentage (50.3). In the first meeting with Maine, he dropped 29 points on 53.3% shooting alongside nine boards.
The second option for UMass-Lowell can hardly be ignored, as Lutete partners with junior Obadiah Noel to form a vicious one-two punch. Noel ranks third in the conference in points per game (18.5) while also ranking third in steals per game (1.6) and second in field goal percentage (49.2).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK (x2) REMATCH
After leading Maine to a 2-0 week in America East conference play, Sergio El Darwich was awarded both CollegeSportsMadness.com National Mid-Major Player of the Week and the America East Player of the Week honors on January 20th thanks to his 31.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game averages for the week.
El Darwich started his week with a massive 36 point, 10 assist, nine rebound performance against UMass-Lowell in a thrilling 104-98 overtime victory on Wednesday night. He followed that up with a 26 point, nine assist, five rebound showing against Binghamton in Maine's 86-63 victory on Sunday afternoon.
The senior co-captain posted a blistering 56.8% mark from the field, alongside 57.1% from three, and 92.3% from the free throw line over the week, and also added in five steals and committed just two turnovers in 81 total minutes.
Both games were attended by Sergio's parents, who traveled from Lebanon to see their son play for the first time in over five years. The America East honor is the first for a Black Bear since Andrew Fleming on February 4th of last year.
For all the latest news and updates regarding Maine Basketball, stay tuned to GoBlackBears.com and the social media handle @BlackBearsMBB on Instagram and Twitter.
