Men’s basketball dropped to 1-4 on the season after their fourth straight loss on Friday, this time to Bowdoin College on the road.

It’s been a series of back-breaking losses for the Beacons dating back to Nov. 11 when Salve Regina hit a late three pointer put the Seahawks up one to stun UMass Boston 72-71. The Beacons have been beaten by an average of just under four points per game in each of their four losses, and have made it hard on themselves.

UMass Boston is shooting 64% from the free throw line this season — the second worst in the Little East Conference — contributing to a losing recipe in close games, which they’ve played in all year.

Despite having a dynamic duo in the talents of Cameron Perkins and Raphel Laurent, the Beacons have struggled to put together a complete game on the floor. They are last in the conference in team rebounds per game as their big man situation remains unsteady with Connor Walden nursing an injury. Perkins, at 6-foot-5-inches, leads the team in rebounds, while 6-foot-2-inch guard Davon Sanders is tied for second with forward Corrie Byrd.

Byrd had mostly been the starter down low for the Beacons as Walden worked his way back from injury until Friday against Bowdoin. Walden slotted back into the starting lineup while Byrd logged just three minutes off the bench. Clayton McLaren and Skyler Venezia made their first starts this year against Bowdoin after they both showed strongly in the game prior against Fitchburg State.

A lot of moving parts and inconsistent play has made for some uncertainty as for who will be seeing the floor when in-conference play begins for the Beacons. Two things that have remained intact have been their stars, Perkins and Laurent.

Perkins is averaging an LEC high 25.4 points per game this season — second place at a distant 22 PPG — and Laurent also lays in the top five at 20.8 points per game himself. Those two are also in the top five of minutes per game which reflects the workload UMass Boston needs from them every night.

Aside from those two there’s still a lot of upside to take away from their tumultuous start. Davon Sanders, in his elevated role as a sophomore, has seen his share of ups and downs — including being taken from the starting lineup on Friday — but has also continued to show much of the same good things he did as a freshman.

Sanders is still rebounding well at his size, and continues to have active hands defensively. Like most of the Beacons, his shot needs to get going in order for his game to take another step.

Skyler Venezia also impressed this past Friday after getting his first start and a season high 35 minutes. He scored an efficient 18 points while forcing the issue of getting to the line along with strong defense, picking up two steals and a block.

The Beacons will be back at home Tuesday to host Wheaton College.