Men's Basketball Slips Up at Franklin Pierce, 81-69
Links: Box Score
RINDGE, N.H. – The Merrimack College men's basketball team went on the road Saturday afternoon and lost to the Franklin Pierce University Ravens, 81-69, at The Fieldhouse in the Warriors' final regular-season road game from Rindge, N.H.
The Basics
Score: Franklin Pierce 81, Merrimack 69
Records: Merrimack (18-9, 12-8 NE10) | Franklin Pierce (14-12, 11-9 NE10)
Location: The Fieldhouse | Rindge, N.H.
The Turning Point:
After Merrimack pulled within eight points, 58-50, midway through the second half, the Ravens used a 10-2 run to take a 16-point lead and never looked back. Four different Ravens scored during the stretch, including four of Mike McDevitt's game-high 24 points.
NE10 Postseason Outlook:
The top-five teams in the Northeast Division advance to the NE10 Championship, with the fifth seed playing the fourth seed out of the Southwest in the opening round on Friday, Feb. 24. The top-three finishers have a bye until the quarterfinals on Sunday, Feb. 26. The Warriors have one game remaining this season, on Tuesday night against Bentley at 7:30 p.m.
1) SNHU (15-5)
2) Merrimack (12-8)
3) Saint Anselm (12-8)
4) Franklin Pierce (11-9)
5) Bentley (10-10)
6) Stonehill (9-11)
7) Assumption (5-15)
8) Saint Michael's (4-16)
How It Happened (First Half)
- Mike McDevitt scored the Ravens' first seven points as the hosts jumped out to a 14-6 lead through the first six minutes of the game. Four minutes later, Matt Banton hit a pair of 3-pointers over a two-minute span to generate a 26-14 lead for the Ravens with 9:54 left in the half
- The Warriors embarked on a 10-4 run over the next three minutes to pull within six points, 30-24. Junior Kyle Howes (Maynard, Mass.) and sophomore Ryan Boulter (Mansfield, Mass.) combined for eight of the 10 points during the stretch
- Beginning at the 4:14 mark, the Ravens scored eight straight points over 48 seconds to build a 38-24 lead. Marvilio Berroa connected on back-to-back 3-pointers during the run.
- With under 90 seconds left, freshman Devon Moore (Hanover, Pa.) and Boulter hit consecutive treys for the Warriors to pull the Warriors within two, 42-34, but a baseline jumper to beat the buzzer gave the hosts a 10-point lead after 20 minutes
How It Happened (Second Half)
- Facing a 48-34 deficit three minutes into the second stanza, the Warriors went on an 8-2 run the featured a pair of triples for Moore and freshman Jaleel Lord (Jersey City, N.J.) to make it a 50-42 game. Freshman Juvaris Hayes (Paterson, N.J.) scored the other field goal during the run and assisted on both triples
- Over the next five minutes, the Ravens worked its lead up to 13 points, but a quick 5-0 stretch from Merrimack cut the deficit to eight points, 58-50, with 9:29 remaining. The stretch featured a trey from Boulter and an up-and-under layup from sophomore Troy McLaughlin (Old Tappan, N.J.). The Ravens, however, responded with a quick 8-0 run to make it 66-50 with 8:00 left
- With the score at 68-52, Merrimack scored six unanswered to pull within 10 points with just five minutes remaining. The run extended to a 9-1 margin following a three-point play from Hayes, and the Warriors called a timeout trailing by eight with 4:48 left
- Hayes tacked on one more layup to bring Merrimack within six at the 4:19 mark, but that would be as close as the Warriors would get. Franklin Pierce ended the game on a 12-6 run to keep the Navy and Gold at bay
Inside The Numbers
- Hayes finished with a team-high 18 points to go along with nine rebounds and six assists. The nine boards marked his most in a game since January 21 against Adelphi, while he increased his assists total to 251 on the season, the most in the country
- Boulter and Barry joined Hayes in double figures, scoring 16 and 10 points, respectively. The latter picked up his fifth double-double of the season by pulling down 10 caroms
- The Warriors struggled from the 3-point line, making just 5-of-26 on the afternoon. Franklin Pierce shot through Merrimack's zone to the tune of 52.6 percent shooting from the field including seven 3-pointers
- McDevitt's 24 points led four Ravens in double figures. Berroa totaled 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while making a team-high three triples
Up Next
The Warriors host Bentley for their regular-season finale on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. from Hammel Court, as the Warriors will honor Barry and senior Riley Calzonetti (Neptune City, N.J.) as part of the Senior Night festivities.
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