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Postgame Press Conference
NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – Playing in front of a sellout crowd of 1,500 strong at Hammel Court on Wednesday night, the Merrimack College men's basketball team downed visiting Army West Point, 69-60, to improve to 6-5 on the season. The contest marked the program's first-ever home game against a Division I foe in its DI era as the Warriors won their first game on campus against a fellow DI program.
Sophomore guard
Mikey Watkins led the way with 17 points that featured a season-best three 3-pointers. Senior
Juvaris Hayes contributed another stat-sheet stuffing night with 14 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals. The Warriors won the turnover battle, forcing the Black Nights in 16 miscues that resulted in 24 points for the hosts. Merrimack also enjoyed a strong shooting second half, sinking 7-of-11 attempts from the beyond the arc in the final 20 minutes.
The Warriors will enjoyed a 10-day layoff before returning to action on Sunday, Dec. 22, when Merrimack visits UC Santa Barbara. The contest will mark the program's first game in the state of California since 1995.
The Essentials
Score:
Merrimack 69, Army West Point 60
Records: Merrimack (6-5) | Army West Point (4-5)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
Attendance: 1,500 (sellout crowd)
Rapid Recap
- Merrimack jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two quick buckets for Hayes, and saw that grow to a 10-6 advantage after six minutes of play following a lay-in by freshman Mykel Derring
- A low-scoring opening stanza saw Army take a brief 14-13 edge at the 9:01 mark. From there, the Warriors rattled off a 6-0 run that featured layups by senior Idris Joyner, Watkins and freshman Jordan Minor. After the run, the Warriors held a five-point advantage with less than six minutes to play in the half
- With Merrimack up one, 21-20, the team's traded buckets over the half's final three minutes. Joyner and Army's Josh Caldwell traded two-pointers in the final 90 seconds, keeping the game at a 25-25 deadlock at the half
- Army led just once in the second half, 26-25, after sinking a free throw for the half's first points. To answer, Merrimack hit three straight triples on consecutive possessions – including back-to-back makes for Watkins – to create a 9-4 surge. Hayes then completed a right-handed finish that increased the run to 11-4, and forced an Army timeout. At the stoppage, Merrimack led 36-30
- Senior Jaleel Lord sank a jumper that brought Merrimack's lead to double figures for the first time, 43-32, with 14:30 left. Army responded, however, using a stretch of six unanswered points to closed within five, 43-38, with 11:40 on the clock
- The game swung in Merrimack's favor at that point. Junior Devin Jensen spurned the surge, drilling back-to-back treys that brought the hosts' lead back to 11, 51-40, at the 8:56 mark. From there, Merrimack's lead never dipped below eight over the remainder of the game
- Watkins came on strong in the final five minutes, totaling six points during the stretch run of the game. Merrimack shot the ball well at the line down the stretch, hitting 11-of-13 free throws over the night's final 88 seconds
Notes and Numbers
- Merrimack and Army met for the fifth time in school history and first time since 1976-77. The Warriors' victory gave Merrimack a 2-3 all-time record against Army, beating the Black Knights for the first time since the 1970-71 year
- After scoring in double figures 11 times as a freshman, Watkins recorded his first double-figure scoring game of the year. He tied his career high in 3-pointers made (3) while coming within one point of his previous career best in scoring. He finished the night 6-of-9 shooting overall
- Hayes extended his double-figure scoring streak to four and his team lead in that category to eight. His eight assists tied his season high against Division I competition this season, as well
- The floor general finished the evening with 817 helpers, moving within nine of establishing a new program record
- Jensen joined Hayes and Watkins in double figures with 14 points, hitting a game-high four 3-pointers
- The Warriors' defense forced at least 16 turnovers for the fifth straight game and the eighth time overall this season
Up Next
The Warriors will have 10 days between games, battling UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 5 p.m. EST out in Santa Barbara, Calif. It will be Merrimack's first game in the state of California since 1995.
