Men’s Basketball Grinds Out 74-61 Win vs. AIC
Links: Box Score
Video: Highlights //
Juvaris Hayes Interview
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's basketball program overcame a miniscule 35-34 halftime deficit on Tuesday evening, in addition to early foul trouble to starters
Ryan Boulter,
Juvaris Hayes and
Idris Joyner, to hand visiting American International a 74-61 defeat at Hammel Court in Northeast-10 Conference play. It marked the Warriors' second win over the Yellow Jackets this year after a non-conference triumph back in December
Merrimack owned a 34-25 lead with 4:30 remaining in the first half before the trio of Boulter, Hayes and Joyner were sent to the bench. The visitors proceeded to score the game's next 12 points overall – including a 10-0 stretch to close to the first half – to build a three-point edge (37-34) early in the final stanza. Trailing 45-44, Merrimack used a 14-4 run that spanned nearly six minutes in the second half to put the game away, leading by a 58-49 margin with 7:30 to play.
The Basics
Score:
Merrimack 74, AIC 61
Records: Merrimack (13-7, 8-5 NE10) | AIC (9-12, 5-8 NE10)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
Rapid Recap
- Four of Merrimack's first six field goals came from distance as Boulter hit three treys to score nine early points as part of a 16-8 start for Merrimack that spanned the night's first 4:35 of action. The Warriors' lead grew to as many as 14 in the first half, 27-13, with 12:01 remaining after an old-school three-point play from freshman Mikey Watkins
- AIC responded at that point, holding Merrimack to seven points over the remainder of the first half. The Yellow Jackets outscored the Warriors, 22-7, over the final 12 minutes of the half to take a lead to intermission. Sophomore Khalief Crawford hit a jumper at the 4:30 mark to bring the Warriors' edge to nine (34-25), but the last stretch of the first half saw the visitors take their first lead with 29 seconds left after a pair of free throws
- Down by four two minutes into the second half, Merrimack's attacked went on a 5-0 burst featuring a Crawford 3-pointer followed by a Boulter bucket to put the hosts back in control, 42-41. The team's traded points from there, leaving AIC with a 45-44 advantage, before a 6-0 run for Merrimack created the night's sixth and final lead chance. Junior Jaleel Lord capped the stretch with a left-wing long ball, making in a 50-45 game with 12:20 to play
- Hayes scored four straight that increased Merrimack's advantage to nine, 58-49, only to see AIC swing back to a 5-0 run that cut the host's edge to four with 7:11 to play. The Warriors called a timeout, and saw Joyner convert consecutive buckets out of the stoppage to gain momentum back from Merrimack with only 5:30 remaining. The Warriors' edge did not dip below eight points the remainder of the night
Notes and Numbers
- Hayes filled the stat sheet, totaling team highs of 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. The floor general committed just three turnovers over 31 minutes of action
- Despite playing only 17 minutes, Joyner totaled a career-high seven blocks. The total marked the most rejections in a game for a Warrior since 2011, and with 37 on the season, Joyner already has the most blocks for a member of the program in the last eight years. He currently leads the NE10 in rejections
- Boulter hit five of Merrimack's eight 3-pointers on the night, finishing with 19 points and a season-best seven rebounds. Lord also finished in double figures, totaling 12 points
- Merrimack coughed the ball up a season-low six times, while forcing AIC into 12 turnovers. The Warriors turned the 12 mistakes into 18 points, while the Yellow Jackets turned the six Merrimack miscues into just two points
- AIC was led by a 19-point, 10-rebound performance from Zekiah Owens. Andrew Anderson posted 10 points off the bench.
- Both teams went to the free throw line 23 times, but AIC shot just 43.5 percent from the stripe (10-23)
Up Next
Merrimack heads to Upstate New York to play the College of Saint Rose on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the Warriors last regular season game against the Southwest Division.
