Solano Sinks Buzzer-Beating Three in 69-66 Victory for Men's Basketball vs. Franklin Pierce
Links: Highlights | Box Score | Gelvis Solano Interview
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Senior Gelvis Solano (Harlem, N.Y.) pulled up from just over halfcourt to sink the buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer on Saturday afternoon in the 69-66 victory for the Merrimack College men's basketball team against Franklin Pierce. The victory keeps the Warriors' postseason hopes alive in the chase for the final spot in the Northeast Division.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 69, Franklin Pierce 66
Records: Merrimack (15-11, 10-10 NE-10) | Franklin Pierce (14-11, 11-9 NE-10)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
NE-10 Postseason Outlook:
The top five teams in the Northeast Division advance to the NE-10 Championship, with the fifth seed playing the fourth seed out of the Southwest in the opening round. Merrimack needs to win on Tuesday at Bentley and have Franklin Pierce lose to Assumption in order to make the postseason.
1) Bentley (15-5)
2) Saint Anselm (15-5)
3) Stonehill (14-6)
4) Southern New Hampshire (13-7)
5) Franklin Pierce (11-9)
6) Merrimack (10-10)
7) Saint Michael's (5-15)
8) Assumption (2-18)
How It Happened
Before the game, Troy Hammel (Valencia, Calif.), Tyler Hunt (Oswego, N.Y.), James Kennedy (Dorchester, Mass.), Solano and JT Strickland (Laurel, Md.) were honored as part the Senior Day ceremony for Merrimack's Class of 2016.
Both team's struggled from the field over the first twenty minutes, with each squad shooting below 40 percent from the field. After five minutes, the Warriors were up 5-2 following a lay-in from Jordan Thornton (Dumfries, Va.). Asante Sandiford made 1-of-2 from the line for Pierce to make it 16-8 Merrimack at the midway point of the half.
Thornton threw home a two-handed slam at the 6:53 mark to make it 18-10, but the Ravens used a 7-0 run to come within one point, 20-19, with 4:09 to play. Junior forward Anthony Barry (Uxbridge, Mass.) capped off his eight-point, five-rebound half with a bucket to put Merrimack ahead 26-21 with 1:48 remaining, and the Warriors took a 28-25 lead into the intermission.
The second half saw much improved offensive basketball, with the programs combining for 82 second-half points. Merrimack jumped out to a 42-33 advantage after six minutes following a stretch of four combined buckets from Hammel and Kennedy. Five unanswered points from Marvilio Berroa brought the Ravens within three points, 48-45, with 10:42 to go in the game.
With 6:17 remaining, Franklin Pierce went on a 5-0 spurt to pull within one, 60-59, as Donte Gittens converted on a three-point play. A Gittens layup with 1:42 remaining brought the score tied at 63-all. On Merrimack's next possession, Barry pulled down a pivotal offensive rebound that found its way to Solano, who drained a right-wing triple to make it 66-63 Warriors with 62 seconds remaining.
The Ravens got possession back, with Gittens pulling up for a straightaway three to tie the game with 4.7 seconds. Solano caught the ensuing inbound and pulled up from 30-feet away as the shot hit nothing but net, sending the crowd into a frenzy and causing some to storm the court. The victory for the Navy and Gold keeps them alive in the hunt for the final playoff spot out of the Northeast Division.
Inside The Numbers
- Solano's shot capped off an incredible career playing in front of the Hammel faithful. He enters the regular-season finale with 2,037 points, which is good for fifth all-time. He finished the night with 13 points and made his final two three-pointer after making only one of his first seven
- Hammel led the way with 16 points, playing in all 40 minutes and pulling down seven rebounds. Barry and Strickland also notched double figures, scoring 13 and 11 respectively
- Gittens finished with 18 for the Ravens, while Matt Banton came off the bench to score 23 points on 8-of-18
- Merrimack shot 40 percent from the field, while the Ravens finished at a 36.9 percent clip. The team's did not shot well from beyond the arc, combing to hit eight three-pointers on 38 attempts
- The Warriors turned 18 Franklin Pierce turnovers into 17 points, and won the points-in-the-pain battle 32-24
Up Next
The Warriors conclude the season on Tuesday evening at Bentley, with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m.
--
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.
