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Video: Highlights //
Jaleel Lord & Juvaris Hayes Postgame Comments
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's basketball program saw visiting Southern New Hampshire start the second half on a 14-0 run that spanned the first 5:42 of the second stanza, turning a four-point halftime edge for the Warriors into a 48-40 advantage. Merrimack recovered, however, using an 8-0 burst to tie the game before an 8-2 run broke a 50-50 deadlock, and then used a 9-0 stretch after SNHU took a brief 61-60 lead late in the second half to put the game away. The hosts emerged with a 75-69 win on Tuesday night at Hammel Court, and now shift their focus to No. 12/11 Florida Southern who Merrimack faces Friday night in its first game of the Terrace Hotel Classic in Lakeland, Fla.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 75, SNHU 69
Records: Merrimack (3-2, 2-1 NE10) | SNHU (3-2, 1-1 NE10)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
Rapid Recap
- Neither team led by more than four over the first 10 minutes of the game. SNHU owned a 16-12 advantage before consecutive layups by freshman Mikey Watkins and junior Juvaris Hayes brought the score to a 16-16 tie
- Those two buckets ignited a 12-0 run for the Warriors that lead Merrimack with a 24-16 advantage. Junior Idris Joyner posted the highlight of the run, sinking a straightaway triple that hit off back iron, went straight in the air and feel back through the hoop. SNHU answered right back, embarking on a 16-4 stretch that saw the visitors creep in front, 32-28, with 2:30 left in the half
- Merrimack recorded the half's final run, outscoring the Penmen by eight over the final 150 seconds. The Warriors scored the final five points of the half – all of which went to Hayes – to bring a 34-28 advantage to the locker room
- SNHU's 14 unanswered points to start the second half were spurned by eight straight to close the run from senior guard Daquaise Andrews. Merrimack's ensuing 12-0 run saw junior Jaleel Lord catch fire, totaling eight of the 12 points including back-to-back 3-pointers that brought the contest even at 48-all
- The biggest bucket of Watkins' young career came with 6:57 left in the game, when he cleaned up his own missed layup to give the Warriors a 58-52 lead. SNHU was able to take a brief lead, 61-60, via a 9-2 run, but Lord fired back with five straight points as part of a 9-0 run that gave Merrimack the lead for good
Notes and Numbers
- Watkins scored a career-best nine points on Tuesday, shooting 4-of-8 from the field while making his first career 3-pointer. The Roselle, N.J. native was a plus-20 on the night in 15 minutes of action
- Hayes netted a season best and game high of 29 points, shooting 12-of-23 from the floor to go along with seven rebounds and a season-high six steals. The starting point guard now owns three 20-point games this season, and has scored in double figures in all five contests
- Lord also poured in a season high in scoring, finishing the night with 22 points. Nineteen of those 22 came in the second half, when the third-year wing made six of his 11 field-goal attempts, three of which came from beyond the arc
- For the second straight game, Joyner finished in double figures with 11 rebounds, which tied for the game high
- Merrimack won the game despite seeing SNHU shoot 52 percent from the field. The Warriors countered that by forcing the Penmen into 21 turnovers, and scoring 28 points off the Penmen's miscues. The disparity in turnovers led to 19 more possessions on the evening for the hosts
Up Next
For the first time in 15 years, Merrimack will play games in the Sunshine State as the Warriors take part in the Terrace Hotel Classic hosted by Florida Southern. The Warriors start the tournament by facing the No. 12/11 Mocs on Friday at 7:30 p.m. before facing Saint Leo at 5:30 p.m.
