Links: Box Score
LOWELL, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's basketball program suffered a 55-46 defeat at the hands of Dartmouth College on Friday evening in its first of three games at the River Hawk Invite hosted at UMass Lowell's Costello Athletic Center. The Warriors owned a 29-23 lead after 20 minutes, but saw the Big Green use a 19-3 run to start the second half that turn the game in their favor.
Senior
Juvaris Hayes led the way with 10 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three assists for Merrimack. Sophomore
Mikey Watkins added nine points on 4-of-7 shooting.
Merrimack will continue tournament play tomorrow when the Warriors take on the host River Hawks at 4 p.m. back at Costello. The program is in the midst of a four-game-in-five-day stretch that sees Merrimack face Jacksonville to conclude the tournament on Sunday before venturing to Providence College on Tuesday night to face the Friars.
The Basics
Score: Dartmouth 55,
Merrimack 46
Records: Merrimack (1-2) | Dartmouth (3-0)
Location: Costello Athletic Center | Lowell, Mass.
Rapid Recap
- Merrimack began the evening on a tear, scoring the day's first nine points. Watkins hit a layup to begin the game, senior Jaleel Lord hit a triple and both Watkins and Hayes converted two-pointers to put the Warriors up nine at the 17:07 mark
- Junior Devin Jensen and freshman Ziggy Reid hit 3-pointers while rookie Jordan Minor added a three-point play at the midway point of the half to put Merrimack ahead, 18-11.
- Merrimack's lead grew to as many as 12, but the Big Green used a 10-0 run to trim their deficit to two, 25-23, with under two minutes until halftime. The Warriors closed the stanza with four points including another bucket for Reid as the buzzer sounded to make it a 29-23 game after 20 minutes
- After Merrimack kept Dartmouth in check defensively in the first half, the Big Green quieted the Warriors to start the second half. Jensen connected on another trey that brook a 29-29 deadlock, but Merrimack went cold following the make. Dartmouth scored the night's next 13 points before a long ball by Reid quieted the run with 9:24 remaining, pulling Merrimack within seven, 42-35
- Dartmouth kept Merrimack at arm's length the remainder of the evening. The Warriors cut their deficit to seven on a pair of occasions – including after freshman Jordan McKoy hit his first career 3-pointer – but Dartmouth prevailed by the 55-46 final
Notes and Numbers
- Hayes has now led Merrimack in rebound in each of the team's first three games, averaging 8.0 per contest. He remains the team leader in points, assists and steals per game, as well
- Friday night marked the first game against Dartmouth in program history
- Jensen, Lord and Reid hit two 3-pointers each to lead the way for Merrimack
- Dartmouth's Chris Knight led all scorers with 13 points and added eight rebounds
- The Ivy League foes controlled the glass, outrebounding the Warriors, 45-23
Up Next
Merrimack and UMass Lowell will meet for the first time since 2013 and will meet for the first time as Division I adversaries tomorrow afternoon. Tip-off between the River Hawks and Warriors is set for 4 p.m. back at Costello.
