| Matchup |
Merrimack (9-5, 4-3 NE10) at
Southern Connecticut (9-5, 4-2 NE10) |
| Date/Time |
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 // 7:30 p.m. |
| Venue |
New Haven, Conn. // Moore Field House |
| Multimedia |
Live Stats // Watch // Twitter // Instagram |
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Two of the projected stalwarts in the Northeast-10 Conference will collide when the Merrimack College men's basketball program visits the Southwest Division leading Southern Connecticut State Owls on Wednesday night (7:30 p.m.). The Owls own the region's longest winning streak, entering tomorrow's action with seven consecutive victories, while Merrimack brings its season-best four-game run into the Moore Field House.
Five Things to Know:
- Merrimack's four-game winning streak features a NE10 triumph against Saint Michael's (12/8) and non-conference victories over AIC (12/11), Goldey-Beacom (12/30) and most recently Queens (1/5). The 50-point win (93-43) over the Knights was the largest margin of victory of the three-year tenure of head coach Joe Gallo, and six points shy of equaling the program's largest win
- In each of Gallo's first two seasons, Merrimack has posted winning streaks of at least five games; the Warriors will have a chance to equal that feat tomorrow night. Merrimack's longest winning streak of the last three year occurred during Gallo's first year, which featured six straight wins over the months of December 2016 and January 2017
- Junior Juvaris Hayes will bring consecutive double-doubles into the matchup with the Owls. Both times have featured at least 10 assists, which has seen the Paterson, N.J. native move into second in the NE10 and the region with 89 total helpers. His 117 made field goals continue to lead the NE10 and region, as well; Hayes is on pace to set a new career best with 21.0 points per game
- Senior Ryan Boulter extended his double-digit scoring streak to four games last Saturday; Merrimack is 7-2 when the sharpshooter nets at least 10 points. Juniors Jaleel Lord (12.2 ppg) and Idris Joyner (10.2 ppg) join Boulter in averaging double figures. The former leads Merrimack in three-point percentage (40.9) while the latter is the team's rebounding leader (7.6/gm)
- Southern Connecticut boasts one of the region's best players in senior Isaiah McLeod. The guard is averaging 21.7 points per contest with shooting splits of .554/.462/.875 over 11 contests. During the Owls' winning streak, SCSU has won five games by double-digit margins including each of its last three triumphs
Series History:
- Southern Connecticut owns a three-game lead (25-22) in the all-time series entering the 48th meeting on Wendesday
- Last season, the team's played twice. Merrimack lost a non-league game at the Moore Field House before besting the Owls in NE10 play later in the year
- Hayes posted a triple-double in the victory, averaging 23.5 points, 9.0 assists 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game over the two games
Scouting the Opposition
| Merrimack (9-5, 4-3 NE10) |
Stat Category |
Southern Conn. (9-5, 4-2 NE10) |
| 78.2 |
Points Per Game |
81.4 |
| 68.6 |
Points Allowed Per Game |
71.9 |
| .469 |
Field Goal Percentage |
.486 |
| .341 |
Three-Point FG Percentage |
.403 |
| 33.9 |
Rebounds Per Game |
36.5 |
| Juvaris Hayes (21.0 ppg) |
Points Leader |
Isaiah McLeod (21.7 ppg) |
| Idris Joyner (7.6 rpg) |
Rebounds Leader |
Luke Beesley (9.8 rpg) |
| Hayes (6.4 apg) |
Assists Leader |
Kaelen Ives (6.3 apg) |
| Hayes (4.0 spg) |
Steals Leader |
McLeod (1.2 spg) |
| Joyner (1.6 bpg) |
Blocks Leader |
Beesley (1.0 bpg) |
Up Next:
The Warriors host Pace University to start a run of four home games out of the next five for Merrimack. Tip-off from Hammel Court is scheduled for 3 p.m. this Saturday afternoon.
