Links: Box Score
Video: Highlights
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's basketball team was held to under 35 percent shooting overall and under 20 percent shooting from deep on Wednesday evening as the visiting New Haven Chargers handed the Warriors a 67-55 defeat from Hammel Court. Junior point guard
Juvaris Hayes notched a double-double in the game, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds against the leaders of the Northeast-10 Conference's Southwest Division.
The Basics
Score: New Haven 67,
Merrimack 55
Records: Merrimack (12-7, 7-5 NE10) | New Haven (12-5, 7-4 NE10)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
Rapid Recap
- Hayes scored five points in the game's first six minutes as Merrimack owned an early 9-6 lead. From there, the Chargers used a 15-3 run to move in front, 21-12, with only 6:12 left in the opening stanza
- Merrimack's defense enabled the team to close the margin before halftime. The Warriors relented just three points in the first half's final five minutes, scoring 10 points of their own to make it a 28-24 game entering the locker room. Hayes hit a 3-pointers standing two feet beyond the arc that highlight the half-closing run
- A 12-1 run for New Haven spanning the 16:06 mark of the second to the 9:21 portion of the final stanza proved to be the turning point. Merrimack went nearly seven minutes without a field goal overall during the stretch, allowing the visitors to build a double-digit advantage at 48-32 with under 10 minutes to play in the game
- New Haven's lead grew to as many as 21, 58-37, with 6:45 to play. From there, however, the Warriors made a late push by going on a 14-1 run that brought Merrimack's deficit down to single digits (59-51) with 3:53 remaining in the game. The Chargers swiftly responded, however, scoring eight unanswered points to silence the comeback bid
Notes and Numbers
- Hayes picked up his fourth double-double over his last seven games. He scored over 20 points for the first time in seven games, posting his ninth 20-point game overall
- New Haven's second-half shooting proved the difference; the Chargers finished 16-of-30 in the final stanza to expand on its 28-24 halftime lead
- Senior Ryan Boulter totaled 11 points and six rebounds, hitting a team-best three 3-pointers. Freshman Mikey Watkins chipped in nine points off the bench, shooting 4-of-11 from the field
- Three Chargers finished in double figures led by 21 points from Elijah Bailey. Roy Kane Jr. played all 40 minutes, totaling 15 points and eight rebounds
Up Next
The Warriors return to Hammel Court for the fourth time in the last six games, facing the University of New Haven at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night.
