Links: Box Score
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – In an afternoon that featured 20 lead changes and seven ties, the host Southern Connecticut State Owls were the last program in front, handing the No. 24 Merrimack College men's basketball program an 82-78 loss on Sunday in a non-conference contest from Moore Field House in New Haven, Conn.
The Basics
Score: Southern Conn. 82,
#24 Merrimack 78
Records: #24 Merrimack (4-3) | Southern Conn. (1-3)
Location: Moore Field House | New Haven, Conn.
Marquee Moments:
- The final 4:33 of the second half saw the Owls turn a 73-69 deficit into their 82-78 victory, ending the game on a 13-5 spurt
- Southern Connecticut scored seven unanswered points to create the game's 20th and final lead change, moving in front by three, 76-73, with 3:05 remaining. Isaiah McLeod scored the first five points of the Owls' 7-0 run
Rapid Recap
- The first six minutes of the game saw the Owls go up two, 10-8, only to see Merrimack embark on a 14-5 run over the next four minutes to take a 22-15 lead with 10:00 remaining in the first half. Sophomore Juvaris Hayes (Paterson, N.J.) and junior Ryan Boulter (Mansfield, Mass.) combined for 18 of Merrimack's first 22 points
- With the score at 31-24 in favor of Merrimack with six minutes left, the Owls totaled 11 of the game's next 15 points to jump ahead, 35-34, with just 2:32 to play in the opening stanza
- Hayes scored the Navy and Gold's final four points of the half to put the Warriors in front, 40-37, but the Owls canned a corner trey as time expired to tie the contest at 40-all entering the locker room
- Southern Connecticut started the second stanza on a 7-0 run, but Merrimack responded swiftly with a 12-2 stretch of its own to recollect a 52-49 advantage. Freshman Khalief Crawford (Linden, N.J.) and Hayes drained consecutive triples to gain the Warriors their lead back
- The next six minutes alone saw eight lead changes, with senior Kyle Howes (Maynard, Mass.) sinking a left-wing triple to answer an Owls' three-pointer to snatch a 65-64 lead for Merrimack with 7:58 remaining
- Sophomore Idris Joyner (Plainfield, N.J.) hit a catch-and-shoot triple off a feed from senior Troy McLaughlin (Old Tappan, N.J.) that shifted the advantage back to Merrimack, 71-69, with 4:57 remaining. Joyner added a pair of free throws to extend the Warriors' lead to four before Southern's game-closing 13-5 run
Notes and Notables
- For the third straight game and fourth time in seven contests, Hayes led the Warriors in scoring with 26 points. He shot 11-of-15 from the field, falling one bucket short of tying his career high
- Hayes added team-highs in assists (8) and rebounds (6). He has now dished out at least eight helpers in four games this year
- Three other Warriors scored in double figures, including a season-best 12 points for Crawford
- The Owls gained a decided advantaged on the glass, outrebounding Merrimack by 11 (43-32). SCSU totaled 14 offensive boards, leading to 18 second-chance points
- McLeod posted a double-double, leading all players in points (28) and rebounds (10)
Up Next
Merrimack plays in its home opener on Wednesday night when the Warriors welcome Stonehill to Hammel Court for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
