Men's Basketball

Men’s Basketball Begins Busy Week Tuesday at AIC

Matchup Merrimack (12-6, 9-3 NE10) at
AIC (10-9, 5-6 NE10)
Date/Time Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018 (7:30 p.m.)
Venue Butova Gymnasium // Springfield, Mass.
Multimedia Live Stats // Video // Twitter // Instagram
 
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – With three games over six days on tap this week, the Merrimack College men's basketball team begins the jam-packed slate on Tuesday evening when the Warriors play their penultimate Northeast-10 Conference cross-divisional game at American International College. Tip-off from Butova Gymnasium is set for 7:30 p.m.

Last Time Out:
  • In the Warriors' lone game last week, Merrimack suffered a 77-75 loss to the University of New Haven that saw the Chargers lead by nine with 3:35 remaining only to see the Warriors nearly comeback in the waning seconds of the game
  • Redshirt-senior Tawayne Anderson Jr. scored a season-high 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while tying his season's best with seven rebounds
  • Three other Warriors scored in double figures, including a 13-point effort that featured a trio of three-pointers from freshman Khalief Crawford 
  • Merrimack's offense was as balanced as it has been all year, with seven of the eight Warriors who took the floor attempting at least six shots, while no one took more than 10 attempts
'Mack Facts:
  • Sophomore point guard Juvaris Hayes made the Bevo Francis Award Watchlist last week, as one of 100 finalists for the award given to the top small college basketball player nationwide
  • Through 18 games, Hayes is among the nation's leaders in assists (145), steals (71), assists per game (8.1) and steals per game (3.9). He also leads Merrimack in points per game (18.5) and rebounds per game (6.4)
  • Despite dropping its last two conference games, Merrimack has remained in second in the division. The Warriors hold a two-game lead over Southern New Hampshire, while trailing division-leading Saint Anselm by one
  • Merrimack's scoring offense ranks seventh in the conference at 75.7 points per game, while AIC is last in the league offensively, netting just 67.2 points per contest. Both teams boast top-five defenses, however, with the Yellow Jackets allowing 70.2 points per night and the Warriors giving up just 71.3 points per contest
The Yellow Jackets:
  • American International is currently fourth in the Southwest Division, winning five of 11 NE10 tilts. The Yellow Jackets have split their six games against the Northeast so far, winning their last two including a 77-71 upset over SNHU
  • AIC is led by Tahlib Swan, who is averaging a team-leading 14.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Swan scored 20 and added eight rebounds in AIC's win over the Penmen on Saturday
  • The Yellow Jackets rank second in the conference in offensive rebounds with 11.5 per contest, ranking fourth in the league overall in rebounding
The Series:
  • Merrimack posted a memorable buzzer-beating victory at home over AIC last season
  • The Yellow Jackets hold a 45-35 edge over the 80-game all-time series against the Warriors
  • Merrimack has won the last two contests, however, including a 105-81 victory two years ago in Springfield
Up Next
The Navy and Gold host Post University on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the Warriors' non-conference finale from Hammel Court.  

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For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.
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Players Mentioned

Tawayne Anderson Jr.

#11 Tawayne Anderson Jr.

F
6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
Khalief Crawford

#1 Khalief Crawford

G
6' 1"
Freshman
Juvaris Hayes

#0 Juvaris Hayes

G
6' 0"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Tawayne Anderson Jr.

#11 Tawayne Anderson Jr.

6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
F
Khalief Crawford

#1 Khalief Crawford

6' 1"
Freshman
G
Juvaris Hayes

#0 Juvaris Hayes

6' 0"
Sophomore
G