BOSTON, MA. (January 24, 2025) – Following their thrilling overtime victory against the Vermont State University (VTSU) Castleton Spartans on Wednesday, the UMass Boston men's basketball team (8-8, 3-5 Little East Conference) will begin the second half of the 16-game LEC season on Saturday, January 25, at 5:30 p.m. against Eastern Connecticut State Warriors (11-5, 3-5 LEC) in Willimantic, CT.

Entering Saturday, UMass Boston and ECSU are among four teams currently tied for fourth place in the LEC, who would ultimately play host to the LEC five-seed in the first round of the conference tournament one month from Saturday's contest on February 25.

The Beacons are two wins away from tying their all-time longest win streak at five games versus the Warriors. The Beacons are 6-4 in the last ten meetings, winning the previous three games, including Hector Perez's viral game-winning buzzer-beating shot in January 2024. Earlier this season, the Beacons protected their home court against the Warriors (77-70), led by 20 points from Cameron Perkins (Danbury, Mass.).
 
This Season:

• On the road this season, the Beacons are 4-4, including significant wins over VTSU Castleton (89-85 OT), the Western Connecticut State Wolves (83-82), and the Curry College Colonels (101-72). The Beacons score 77.9 points per game and average 37.8 rebounds, 12.6 assists, 9.7 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game. Senior captain Emanuel Zayas (Hollywood, Fla.) orchestrates the offense with 256 points in 16 games (16.0 PPG). In the last matchup, Zayas ran up the scoring with a 30-point masterpiece in the Beacons' OT win over the VTSU Castleton Spartans. Graduate Forward Mark Barrett is the leading glass-cleaner for UMass Boston, with 96 rebounds in 16 games. First-year guard Raphel Laurent (Peabody, Mass.) has flourished in his role this season. In the previous five games, he averaged 17.8 PPG, including a new career-high 26 against Plymouth State. In the win over the Spartans, Laurent recorded a career-high five steals, totaling 12 over a five-game stretch (2.4 SPG). Laurent has cemented himself among the LEC's brightest young talents with two LEC Rookie of the Week recognitions this season. First-year Davon Sanders (Mansfield, Mass.) continues to carve out his role, earning 24.2 minutes per game and averaging 6.4 PPG and 1.2 SPG.
• The Warriors are 3-3 on their home court this season and are 2-3 in their last five games. As a unit, they are scoring 67.9 points per game and average 34.9 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 6.6 steals and 4.3 blocks per game. Offensively, they are led by Dominik Dao and Julian Sanchez, who scored 238 and 236 total points (14.9 / 14.8 PPG respectively) in 16 games played as the primary duo for the Warriors.

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