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Howes Interview
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Tied at 69-all with 2:57 remaining in Tuesday's regular season finale against Saint Michael's, the Merrimack College men's basketball program closed the night on an 11-1 run that featured consecutive three-pointers from junior
Ryan Boulter to top the Purple Knights, 81-70, from Hammel Court. With the win, Merrimack finished in second place in the Northeast Division, and will host New Haven on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. in the NE10 Championship Quarterfinals.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 81, Saint Michael's 70
Records: Merrimack (18-10, 14-7 NE10) | Saint Michael's (7-19, 4-17 NE10)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
NE10 Championship Picture:
Merrimack finished in second place in the Northeast Division and will host New Haven in the NE10 Quarterfinals on Sunday afternoon at Hammel Court. The contest will begin at 3 p.m. See below for the full NE10 Championship field.
Northeast Division:
1. Saint Anselm (15-6)
2. Merrimack (14-7)
3. Bentley (12-9)*
4. Stonehill (12-9)*
5. Southern New Hampshire (11-10)
Southwest Division:
1. Le Moyne (18-2)
2. Saint Rose (15-5)
3. New Haven (13-7)
4. Southern Connecticut (11-9)
5. Adelphi (7-13)
Marquee Moments:
- The Warriors saw their 11-point halftime lead (43-32) evaporate with 6:47 remaining in regulation, as Saint Michael's taking a 61-60 lead
- Facing a 65-63 deficit, junior Troy McLaughlin and Boulter nailed back-to-back treys, but the Purple Knights scored the next four points to even the game with under three minutes left
- Sophomore Juvaris Hayes scored the first four points of the 11-1 game-closing run, while Boulter's makes proved to be the back-breaking buckets of the night
Rapid Recap
- Senior Night saw honorees Tawayne Anderson Jr. and Kyle Howes score consecutive buckets to square the contest at 10-all with 14:22 on the clock. From there, the Warriors scored the next nine points to surge ahead, 19-10, behind two straight field goals for sophomore Jaleel Lord
- Howes hit a triple at the 3:54 mark that grew Merrimack's lead into double digits for the first time at 36-26. Anderson capped off Merrimack's 43-point opening stanza with a lay-in late in the frame that put Merrimack ahead by 11 through 20 minutes
- Saint Michael's started the second half with a flurry, using an 8-0 run to pull within three points (43-40). The Warriors scored the next five to temporarily quell the visitors' comeback, 48-40, with 15:34 remaining
- With 12:11 on the clock, Colin Richey connected on a three-ball that made it a one-point affair, 51-50. Hayes scored five points in a row to build a six-point advantage back for the hosts, but the Purple Knights outscored Merrimack, 11-4, over the next four minutes to take a 61-60 lead
- McLaughlin's three-ball marked his only field goal of the night, but it created the sixth and final lead change. Boulter hit just one triple over the night's first 35 minutes before hitting three in the final five minutes
Notes and Notables
- The Senior Night ceremony saw Anderson Jr. and Howes honored before the game. The duo proceeded to combine for 24 points and 15 rebounds, including a first-career double-double for Anderson Jr. with 11 points and 10 caroms
- Boulter and Hayes tied for the team lead with 16 points. All of Hayes' field goals came from inside the arc while four of Boulter's five buckets came from distance
- Lord nearly doubled up himself, posting 11 points and seven boards off the bench
- The Warriors hit 10 triples compared to five for Saint Michael's
- The Navy and Gold forced Saint Michael's into 19 turnovers, which resulted in 19 points for Merrimack
Up Next
The Warriors' second-place finish in the Northeast – the highest in program history – rewarded Merrimack with a home game in the quarterfinals, which will be a rematch of last year's NE10 First Round match at Hammel Court against New Haven. Tip-off against the Chargers on campus will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
