Preview of Thursday’s America East Men’s Basketball Game LOWELL, Mass. (Interstat) — Two teams looking to climb the America East standings will meet Thursday when the Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks host the Bryant Bulldogs at Costello Athletic Center. The conference matchup features teams with nearly identical records seeking momentum for the season’s final stretch. The River Hawks (10-15) enter with a slight edge over the Bulldogs (8-16) in the standings. Both squads are coming off victories last Saturday, with Massachusetts-Lowell winning 89-79 at Albany and Bryant defeating Maine 73-67 at home. This game is a quick rematch of a Jan. 8 meeting in Smithfield, Rhode Island, where the River Hawks secured a 77-63 road win. In that contest, Massachusetts-Lowell’s defense held Bryant to 36.2% shooting from the field. A key matchup will feature two of the league’s top guards. Bryant will rely on Timofei Rudovskii, who is averaging 19.1 points over his last seven games. The guard is coming off a 16-point performance against Maine and scored 24 in a narrow loss to Albany on Feb. 5. For Massachusetts-Lowell, Xavier Spencer has been a consistent force, scoring in double figures in six of his last seven outings. He facilitated the offense well in the win over Albany, finishing with 18 points and four assists. Victor Okojie (22 points) and Angel Montas (21 points) also provided significant scoring in that victory. Both teams have shown recent volatility. The River Hawks’ win at Albany followed a 25-point road loss to NJIT. Similarly, Bryant’s win over Maine came after a last-second home loss to Albany. The game could hinge on which team sustains its most recent performance. The River Hawks hold a 7-5 record at home this season, while the Bulldogs are 2-9 in true road games. Following this contest, Massachusetts-Lowell will host New Hampshire on Feb. 19. Bryant continues its road trip with a game at Vermont on Feb. 14. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Thursday at Costello Athletic Center.