Men's Basketball Welcome LIU-Post Sunday Looking to Snap Skid
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NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's basketball team returns to Hammel Court to take on the LIU-Post Pioneers for a Sunday afternoon clash, as both teams look to snap three-game losing streaks heading into the match.
After opening the season 2-0, the Warriors have dropped three straight, including an 86-69 setback on the road against 10th-ranked Franklin Pierce and, most recently, falling to conference foe Bentley on the road, 62-56. The Pioneers, meanwhile, have not yet tasted victory this season. LIU-Post opened the season in the Southern New Hampshire Tournament and fell to both Franklin Pierce (81-70) and the host Penmen (60-57) to start the year 0-2, and most recently dropped an overtime decision to Post, 73-72.
Sunday's contests marks the first meeting between the Warriors and Pioneers in nearly seven years. The last time the two schools played each other was back in Nov. 20, 2005, when Merrimack came away with a 74-55 victory in the C.W. Post Tip-Off Tournament.
Merrimack has faced LIU-Post just 11 times in program history. The Pioneers own a slight advantage (6 wins, 5 losses) heading into Sunday. Both teams played each other fairly regularly on a yearly basis earlier this century, but from March 18, 1989, to Dec. 22, 2000, the programs did not play each other at all in a nearly 11-year span. Merrimack defeated then-C.W. Post, 98-85, in the ECAC Playoffs in New Haven, Conn., back in 1989 before the Pioneers returned the favor years later, handing the Warriors an 83-81 setback on Dec. 22, 2000 after an 11-year hiatus.
Most recently, Merrimack trailed by just five heading into the break, but the host Bentley Falcons used a late run to take a 19-point lead that proved to be the difference, as Warriors fell, 62-56, in a Northeast-10 Conference clash on Tuesday night at the Dana Center.
The hosts would run up their advantage to a game-high 19-point cushion (56-37) with 6:22 to play, and that aggressive run wound up being necessary as the Warriors made a late push of their own to cut the deficit to five points in the final minute, but it would be too little, too late, as the Falcons earned their 18th consecutive win against the Warriors.
For the fifth time in as many games, senior forward Mike Clifford led the Warriors with a game-high 24 points and finished with another double-double after hauling down a game-best 13 boards. Joining him in double-digits was rookie guard Gelvis Solano (New York, N.Y.), who chipped in 10 points and a game-high five helpers while also earning two steals.
LIU-Post opened up the season as a participant in the Southern New Hampshire University Tournament. The Pioneers, however, dropped both contests they participated in, including an 81-70 loss to 10th-ranked Franklin Pierce before falling by just three points (60-57) to the host Penmen.
Most recently, the Pioneers welcomed Post University for their home-opener, but the visitors edged ahead in overtime to hand LIU a heartbreaking 73-72 defeat on Nov. 17.
Junior Allen Vaughn boasts impressive numbers through three games. The forward averages 18.3 ppg along with 8.7 rpg while also averaging 31.0 minutes per match. His four steals are tied for the team lead. Also averaging double figures in scoring is Tobin Carberry. The senior guard plays nearly every minute, averaging 38.0 minutes per contest, while contributing 17.0 ppg and 4.3 rpg.
Tyuan Williams has led the Pioneers in the paint with a side-high 12.7 rpg, while Billy Butler's 11 assists through three games also leads the team. Finally, Charles McCann has posted a team-best nine stuffs, as well.
As a team, the Pioneers own a commanding +11.7 rebounding margin. They have averaged an impressive 45.7 rebounds offensively while only allowing 34.0 rpg. Turnovers have hurt LIU-Post, indicative of the Pioneers' -6.7 turnover margin. LIU has, however, shot just 15.2 percent from long range on the season.
While the Warriors have struggled in their last three contests, senior forward Mike Clifford has not missed a beat. The Danvers, Mass., native currently averages a double-double on the season and leads the NE-10 in scoring average (21.8 ppg) and ranks third in rebounding average (11.6 rpg).
The 6-foot-7 big man has posted double-doubles in four out of five games already, with the most recent coming on the heels of a 24-point, 13-rebound output on the road against Bentley.
Despite their inexperience, freshmen guards Gelvis Solano and JT Strickland have played significant minutes in their first four collegiate contests. The duo has manned the backcourt throughout the young season, as both of started each of the first four games at point guard and shooting guard.
Solano recently set a new career high with a team-best 22 points in the Warriors' home loss against Concordia last Saturday. The New Yorker made all five Merrimack 3-pointers against the Clippers and currently ranks second on the squad with 12.4 ppg while dishing out 22 helpers and posting a team-best 11 steals on the season.
JT Strickland, meanwhile, averages just under 10 points per game (7.8 ppg) while starting in all five contests to date. The Laurel, Md., native has distributed a side-high 33 helpers with nine steals on the season.
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