| Matchup |
Merrimack (7-5) at
Goldey-Beacom (5-5) |
| Date/Time |
Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018 (2:30 p.m.) |
| Venue |
Wilmington, Del. // Joseph West Jones Center |
| Multimedia |
Live Stats // Watch // Twitter // Instagram |
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's basketball team readies for its final game of the calendar year and penultimate non-conference contest of the 2018-19 season on Sunday when the Warriors visit Goldey-Beacom College. Tip-off from the Joseph West Jones Center in Wilmington, Del. is slated for 2:30 p.m.
Five Things to Know:
- Merrimack totaled a 7-5 record over its first 12 games of the season, while included a 4-2 record at home and a 2-3 ledger away from Hammel Court. The Warriors played one game at a neutral site. Only one of Merrimack's five defeats was decided by more than six points
- Goldey-Beacom was selected to finish in second of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference's South Division. The Lightning won the division one year ago, and posted a school-record tying 20 wins; it marked the College's fourth 20-win season in school history. Goldey-Beacom is led by senior Corey Taite, who was named CACC Player of the Year as a junior and recently became the Lightning's all-time leading scorer
- Junior Juvaris Hayes starts the second half as one of the most prolific players in the country. He leads the Northeast-10 Conference, the East Region and ranks fifth nationwide in field goals made (107). He also serves as the team leader in points per game (22.8), free throws made (59), assists (66), steals (48) and is third in total rebounds (80). He also leads the conference and nation in steals per game (4.00)
- Merrimack's offense also features four other players averaging at least 8.8 points per game. Senior Ryan Boulter leads the quartet with 14.3 points per contest followed by juniors Jaleel Lord (11.8), Idris Joyner (10.1) and sophomore Khalief Crawford (8.8). Joyner leads the team and ranks third in the conference with a 63.5 field-goal percentage
- Off the bench, a pair of reserves have taken advantage of an increase in playing time. Freshman Mikey Watkins scored a career-high 18 points off the bench against American International, earning a nod as NE10 Rookie of the Week. Sophomore Devin Jensen added a career-best 10 points against Saint Michael's (12/8)
Series History:
- Sunday will mark the first-ever meeting between Merrimack and Goldey-Beacom.
- Goldey-Beacom is one of three CACC teams on Merrimack's 2018-19 schedule. The Warriors are currently 1-1, owning a win over Holy Family and a loss to Jefferson
- The Lightning have faced four NE10 teams, faltering in three of the four games. Goldey-Beacom's lone win came against New Haven.
Scouting the Opposition
| Merrimack (7-5) |
Stat Category |
Goldey-Beacom (5-5) |
| 77.8 |
Points Per Game |
84.5 |
| 71.0 |
Points Allowed Per Game |
78.6 |
| .462 |
Field Goal Percentage |
.461 |
| .331 |
Three-Point FG Percentage |
.378 |
| 33.6 |
Rebounds Per Game |
34.9 |
| Juvaris Hayes (22.8 ppg) |
Points Leader |
Corey Taite (20.8 ppg) |
| Idris Joyner (7.8 rpg) |
Rebounds Leader |
Dwayne Dixon (6.3 rpg) |
| Hayes (5.5 apg) |
Assists Leader |
Taite (4.8 apg) |
| Hayes (4.0 spg) |
Steals Leader |
Marcellus Livingston (1.8 spg) |
| Joyner (1.8 bpg) |
Blocks Leader |
Two Tied (0.4 bpg) |
Up Next:
Merrimack returns home for its non-conference finale on Saturday, Jan. 5, when the Warriors host Queens College (N.Y.) at 3 p.m. from Hammel Court.
