| Matchup |
Merrimack (6-5) at UCSB (7-4) |
| Date/Time |
Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 // 5 p.m. ET |
| Venue |
Santa Barbara, Calif. // The Thunderdome |
| Multimedia |
Watch // Live Stats |
| Social |
Twitter // Instagram |
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's basketball program visits California for the first time since 1995 on Sunday afternoon when the Warriors battle UC Santa Barbara at the Gauchos' Thunderdome. The contest will be played beginning at 5 p.m. back east and 2 p.m. locally in Santa Barbara, Calif. The contest marks the first between Merrimack and UCSB; the Warriors also play their first ever program representing the Big West.
SCOUTING THE GAUCHOS
UCSB hosts Southern University on Friday night before welcoming the Warriors to the Thunderdome on Sunday; the Gauchos boast a 7-4 overall record through 11 games, most recently rallying for at overtime victory at Idaho State on Monday evening. Santa Barbara pours in nearly 73 points per game on 46 percent shooting. Four members of the team have averaged in double figures led by 14.2 points per game by freshman Amadou Sow. Graduate transfer Matt Freeman has made an immediate impact as well, shooting a team-best 46 percent from the arc.
HISTORY AGAINST UCSB
Merrimack and UCSB will play for the first time ever on Sunday afternoon. The Warriors have not played in California State since a run of non-conference treks at the Division II level in the early 1990's. The Warriors' last game in the Golden State was in 1995.
Matchup Comparison:
| Category |
Merrimack (6-5) |
UCSB (7-4) |
| Scoring Offense |
63.1 |
72.6 |
| Scoring Defense |
61.4 |
68.5 |
| Field-Goal % |
40.4% |
46.0% |
| Field-Goal % Defense |
42.8% |
45.1% |
| 3-PT Field Goal % |
29.7% |
32.4% |
| 3-PT Field Goal % Defense |
29.7% |
36.0% |
| 3-PT Field Goal Attempts |
296 |
225 |
| Free-Throw Percentage |
70.5% |
75.0% |
| Winning Percentage |
.545 |
.636 |
| Rebounding Margin |
-9.4 |
+6.3 |
| Assists/Game |
12.5 |
13.0 |
| Steals/Game |
10.5 |
4.5 |
| Turnovers/Game |
11.1 |
11.9 |
| Blocks/Game |
2.9 |
2.6 |
| Total Fouls |
189 |
199 |
ROAD WARRIORS
Merrimack's win over Army marked the program's first home game against a Division I opponent - playing a DI foe so late into the year that only two only programs nationwide have their home opener later in the year than the Warriors. Merrimack owns three true road victories as well this year, and joined Vermont and William and Mary as the first three programs this season to accumulate three wins in true road games. Additionally, the Northeast Conference boasts four teams with at least three road wins (Merrimack, Bryant, Sacred Heart & Saint Francis), the most in Division I.
800 CAREER ASSISTS ... AND COUNTING
Senior point guard
Juvaris Hayes recorded his 800th career assist at Hartford, becoming the third player in Merrimack history to do so. He currently rests on 817 for his career, needing nine more assists to set a new program record (826), currently owned by Darren Duncan '10. His 7.7 career assists per game average is up there in program history as well. Peter Dufour leads all former Warriors with a career assists average of 9.0 per contest
LOCK IT DOWN
Merrimack's defense is among the best in the NEC in the early parts of the season. The Warriors are currently allowing a league-best 61.4 points per game - over six points fewer than any other team in the conference. The Warriors' .428 field-goal percentage defense ranks third in the conference while Merrimack's 3-point field-goal defense (.297) sits atop the league rankings, as well. More league-leading stats include steals and turnover margin, where Merrimack's 10.55 thefts per game and +6.55 turnover margin are the best in the league. If Merrimack qualified, the Warriors would rank fifth nationally in steals and7th in turnover margin.
FROM DEEP!
Merrimack ranks fourth in the NEC in 3-pointers made (88), and are one of five teams in the league averaging over eight makes per contest. Junior
Devin Jensen has been prolific from distance, ranking sixth in the conference in percentage (.404) and in a tie for fourth in makes with 23.
Up Next:
The Warriors will be back in action on Sunday, Dec. 29, when Merrimack welcomes Boston University to Hammel Court. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. on campus, marking the Warriors' final non-league home game of the season before Northeast Conference play begins in the new year.
