Mack, Strothers Post Double-Doubles as Men's Hoops Soars Over Franklin Pierce
Postgame Interview: Strothers
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.- The Merrimack men's basketball team claimed a 75-61 victory over Franklin Pierce Wednesday evening at Volpe Gym. The Warriors escalate their overall record to 12-12 and 8-12 in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Ravens sink to 6-19 on the year and 4-16 in league action.
Aaron Strothers (Wareham, Mass.) paced Merrimack with 23 points, 12 rebounds and a career-best eight blocks. Wayne Mack (Paterson, N.J.) finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the year. Dee Mency (Hagerstown, Md.) contributed 17 points and eight rebounds on the night. In his first game back from injury, Roland Davis (Deer Park, N.Y.) scored five points and added four assists to his credit.
The Warriors erupted for a 10-2 lead to start the game. Merrimack increased the margin to 11 with 12:30 remaining in the first half, 18-7.
The Warriors maintained their distance throughout the opening 20 minutes. With under two minutes to play in the first frame, Merrimack still owned a double-digit lead over the visitors, 34-24.
The home squad went into the break with a 34-26 advantage. The Warriors shot 45.5% from the floor in the first half while limiting Franklin Pierce to 28.6% shooting. Merrimack drained half of its three-point attempts through 20 minutes of play and stymied the Ravens' outside shooting, holding them to 23.5% shooting from behind the arc.
Strothers led the Warriors in the opening period with 12 points while adding five boards. Mack finished the first half with eight points while Mency tallied seven.
After five minutes of play, Merrimack clung to a 38-28 lead.
At the 11:08 mark, the home team grabbed a 12-point lead when quick ball movement opened up Mack for an open three-pointer from the top of the key. On the following possession, the Warriors extended the gap to 14 points on a jumper by Davis, 49-35.
Mack drained his fourth trey of the night with under seven minutes to go to put Merrimack up 58-43.
The Ravens began to chip away at the Warriors' lead, stringing together a 9-2 run to slice the advantage to six points, 60-54, with four minutes left on the clock.
Merrimack converted 8-of-8 free throws in the final three minutes of play to seal the victory.
The Warriors finished the game with a sizzling 44.3% field goal percentage while shooting 40% from three-point range. Merrimack sank 13-of-14 free throws in the game. Franklin Pierce was limited to 33% shooting from the floor and 31% from downtown.
The home squad outrebounded the Ravens 47-38 on the night.
"Our guys went out and played extremely well from the get-go. Our intensity and hardwork paid off on the offensive and defensive ends," said head coach Bert Hammel.
The Warriors close out the home portion of the 2010-11 slate as they welcome Saint Michael's to Volpe Gym February 19. Merrimack will honor its senior class in a pregame ceremony.
