Men’s Basketball Ends First Run Through the Northeast Division Saturday vs. Saint Michael’s

Matchup	Merrimack (5-5, 3-3 NE10) vs. Saint Michael's (3-5, 1-5 NE10)
Date/Time	Saturday, Dec. 8 (3:00 p.m.)
Venue	North Andover, Mass. // Hammel Court
Multimedia	Live Stats // Watch // Twitter // Instagram

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's basketball program will play its final Northeast Division game until the month of February on Saturday afternoon when the Warriors welcome Saint Michael's to Hammel Court for a 3 p.m. tip-off. The contest also marks the program's last game a home until the calendar changes to 2019.

Five Things to Know:

• Merrimack's zone defense has proven to be one of the most disruptive defenses in the conference, forcing the third most turnovers per game (15.1) while also recording 3.5 blocks per game, which is second behind the 4.6 blocks per game average from Saturday's opponent, Saint Michael's.
• Merrimack's defense is centered by junior Idris Joyner who averages 1.4 blocks per game, the most on the team and third-best in the conference. Joyner also leads the team in rebounding with 7.7 boards per game, including 2.5 offensive caroms per contest. Junior Jaleel Lord ranks second in rebounding with 7.5 per game while adding 1.2 steals per game, second-best on the team.
• Merrimack's offense ranks ninth in points per game (77.2) and leads the NE10 in field goals made (286). The Merrimack offense runs through junior guard Juvaris Hayes. Hayes leads the team in points per game (23.0), assists (5.4), and field goals made (91). Hayes ranks second in the NE10 in points per game and fourth in assists per game. His 91 field goals made and 3.56 steals per game average tops the nation
• Senior forward Ryan Boulter ranks second on the team in points per game (13.2) and 3-pointers made (28). Lord (12.8) and Joyner (10.4) each average double-digit point totals. Joyner ranks third in the NE10 in field goal percentage (65.0) while shooting 50 percent from 3-point range.
• The Warriors' offense has been clicking lately, recording at least 80 points in five straight games – the longest run of 80-point games for the program since the 2014-15 season 

Series History:

• On Saturday afternoon, Merrimack and Saint Michael's will play for the 105^th time, with the Purple Knights holding a 60-44 advantage over the Warriors
• Merrimack is searching for their 5^th straight win against Saint Michael's; their last loss to the Purple Knights came in overtime in their second meeting in the 2015-16 season
• Hayes averaged 15.0 points per game against the Purple Knights last year, while in the game at Hammel Lord produced an 11-point, seven-rebound effort in just 16 minutes of action

Scouting the Opposition

Merrimack (5-5, 3-3 NE10)	Stat Category	Franklin Pierce (3-4, 1-2 NE10)
76.4	Points Per Game	80.4
71.8	Points Allowed Per Game	89.3
.459	Field Goal Percentage	.427
.346	Three-Point FG Percentage	.349
33.2	Rebounds Per Game	38.0
Juvaris Hayes (23.0 ppg)	Points Leader	Levi Holmes III (20.4 ppg)
Idris Joyner (7.7 rpg)	Rebounds Leader	Eli DiGrande (6.9 rpg)
Hayes (5.4 apg)	Assists Leader	Jordan Guzman (3.9 apg)
Hayes (3.6 spg)	Steals Leader	Jaylen Hall/Holmes III (1.1 spg)
Joyner (1.4 bpg)	Blocks Leader	Derek Cheatom/DiGrande (0.9 bpg)

 
Up Next:
The Warriors will travel to Springfield, Mass. to battle American International in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday, December 11^th. The game is scheduled for a 5:30 tipoff at Butova Gymnasium.