BOSTON, MA (February 4, 2025) – The UMass Boston men's basketball team (10-9, 5-6 Little East Conference) will look to pack the Clark Gymnasium on Wednesday evening, February 5, against the LEC fifth-seeded University of Southern Maine Huskies (9-11, 5-6 LEC) in a crucial battle for post-season placement.

In the first round of the LEC Postseason Tournament, the LEC fourth seed will host the LEC fifth seed on Tuesday, February 25, with the winner advancing to play the second seed. The Beacons enter Wednesday as the LEC fourth-seed, with this matchup serving as a potential first-round preview for this year's post-season tournament.

The Beacons enter Wednesday's game following a thrilling 84-79 win over the Anchormen of Rhode Island College, where first-year Raphel Laurent (Peabody, Mass.) had himself another standout performance with 25 points (team-high), eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block. The last win the Beacons recorded over the Huskies was in January of 2023, where now-graduate Bobby Joy (Harwich, Mass.) dropped 25 points, including three triples and 8-9 from the free throw line. In the previous five games this season, the Beacons are 3-2 with wins against R.I.C (84-79), Eastern Connecticut State (70-62), and the Vermont State University Castleton Spartans (89-85 OT).

As a unit this season, the Beacs average 76.4 points and contribute 36.8 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 8.9 steals, and 3.5 blocks per game. Offensively, they are led by senior captain Emanuel Zayas (Hollywood, Fla.) with 310 points in 19 games (16.3 PPG), followed by Laurent with 232 points in 19 games (12.2 PPG). Sophomore Xavier McKenzie (Lowell, Mass.) has been a reliable option for the Beacons offense with a solid 15.4 PPG average in 12 games. Graduate forward Mark Barrett (Brookline, Mass.) has been a jack-of-all-trades this season, stepping up in categories the team needs him the most. Barrett leads the team in total rebounds this season with 110 in 19 games (5.8 RPG) and is second in the team in assists with 60 behind Zayas' 65 as the primary point guard. Zayas McKenzie, Laurent, and Barret cumulatively average 5.7 steals per game as the core defensive anchors.

The Huskies enter Wednesday on a two-game winning streak over the Rhode Island College Anchormen (83-81) and the Eastern Connecticut State Warriors (91-76). On the road this season, they are 4-6, with their most significant road win coming against the University of Maine Farmington (103-90) in November of 2024. The Huskies need a win over the Beacons to advance in the LEC standings, with just over two weeks remaining in the regular season. As a unit, the Huskies are averaging 83.1 PPG and contribute 38.4 RPG, 14.8 APG, 6.4 SPG, and 2.1 BPG. The Huskies have a pair of 20 PPG scorers, with graduate forward Byrce Lausier leading in all statistical categories with 22.4 PPG, 12 RPG, and 3.5 assists per game, followed by junior guard Thomas Whelan with 22.6 PPG and 3.4 APG.

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