BOSTON, MA (February 7, 2025) – The Beacons' men's basketball team (11-9, 6-6 Little East Conference, LEC) will travel north to Keene, N.H. on Saturday, February 8, for a LEC matchup against the #22 team in NCAA DIII basketball (d3hoops.com), the LEC undefeated Keene State Owls (17-3, 11-0 LEC), with tip-off slated for 3:00 p.m.

The Beacons are coming off a thrilling win against the University of Southern Maine Huskies (87-82) from their home court on Wednesday, where five different UMass Boston scorers added double-digit figures in an offensive showcase. Earlier this season in January, the Beacons tested the Owls and fell just short (71-82). On the road in 2024-25, the Beacons have accumulated six victories, with the largest road win of the season coming against the Curry College Colonels in November (101-72).

UMass Boston is scoring 76.9 points per game, and averages 37 rebounds, 12.5 assists, 9.1 steals, and 3.5 blocks per game. UMass Boston holds opponents to a third-lowest 42% field goal shooting in the LEC, atoning for their defensive intensity. The dynamic duo of senior guard Emanuel Zayas (Hollywood, Fla.) and first-year Raphel Laurent (Peabody, Mass.) lead the Beacons in scoring with 328 points in 20 games (16.4 PPG) for Zayas, and 250 in the same stretch (12.5 PPG) for Laurent. Laurent has taken the LEC's rookie class by storm, collecting three LEC Rookie of the Week awards this season. Most recently, Laurent tallied a team-high 18 points in the victory over the USM Huskies. In 13 games played this season, sophomore Xavier McKenzie (Lowell, Mass.) has also been a reliable offensive option, threatening 15.4 PPG in 13 games. Graduate forward Mark Barrett (Brookline, Mass.) has been a jack-of-all-trades this season, ranking top-five on the team in points (146 PTS – 20 games – 7.3 PPG), first in rebounds (121 total rebounds, 17 offensive/ 104 defensive – 6.1 RPG),  second in assists (64 total assists, 3.2 APG), and first in blocks (19 total – 1.0 BPG).

The Owls are 17-3 this season and are currently on 11-game unbeaten streak. Their most previous loss came against #20 Wisconsin- La Crosse (66-81) in December. In the Owls' last matchup on Tuesday, February 4, against the Vermont State University (VTSU) Castleton Spartans, they were victorious by a 17-point margin. The Owls' senior guard, Octavio Brito, leads the LEC in scoring 22.4 PPG and leads the Owls in rebounding with 8.3 per game. Brito averages 1.7 steals and 1.5 blocks for 3.2 blocks+ steals per game on the defensive side. Mason Jean-Baptiste is second on the team in scoring with 11.2 PPG. As a unit, the Owls are scoring 90.5 points per game, and average 37.5 rebounds, 16.0 assists, 10.4 steals, and 3.3 blocks per game.

Tune In
Watch | Live Stats