Men’s Basketball Returns to Divisional Play at Assumption

Matchup	Merrimack (14-7, 9-5 NE10) at Assumption (6-15, 2-12 NE10)
Date/Time	Wednesday, February 6, 2019 // 7:30 p.m.
Venue	Worcester, Mass. // Laska Gymnasium
Multimedia	Live Stats // Watch // Twitter // Instagram

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's basketball program will face its Northeast Division brethren for the second time this season, beginning the final seven games of the regular season on Wednesday night at Assumption College. Tip-off from Laska Gymnasium in Worcester, Mass. is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Warriors posted a 5-2 record against the Southwest Division to rise to second place in the Northeast, holding a one-game advantage over third-place Bentley University. Assumption enters Wednesday on a three-game slide, winning only once during the cross-division portion of its schedule.

Five Things to Know:

• Merrimack used a first-half 3-point barrage from junior Jaleel Lord – who made all five of his attempts from deep in the first 20 minutes – and received a 14-point second-half effort from senior Ryan Boulter to guide the program to a 71-61 win at Saint Rose on Saturday. The Warriors held an opponent to exactly 61 points for a second straight game; Merrimack's top-ranked scoring defense in the division has held opponents to under 70 in nine of its last 10 games
• The Warriors' defense is holding opponents to 67.8 points per game; Merrimack is the only team in the Northeast allowing less than 70 points per game and ranks 36^th nationwide in point allowed. Merrimack is forcing over 17 turnovers per game – leading the NE10 and ranking 23^rd in the country – while also pacing the conference and ranking 24^th in Division II with 9.1 steals per game
• Merrimack's 3-point attack has come alive over its last nine games, sinking at least 10 in seven of them. Previous to this run, the Warriors had hit less than 10 triples in five straight games. Boulter (68) and Lord (54) have hit 122 combined treys, the second most of any tandem in the region
• Junior point guard Juvaris Hayes continues to run the offense spectacularly, leading Merrimack in point per game (19.3), assists per game (6.5) and steals per game (3.7). The Paterson, N.J.  native leads the nation in total steals (79). Hayes' 158 field goals made and 52.7 field-goal percentage are also both on pace to set new career bests
• Junior Idris Joyner posted a seven-block game last week – the most for a Warrior in nearly a decade – and has a league-leading 37 rejections this season. The second-year Warrior already has the most blocks for a Merrimack player in a single year since 2010-11

February Flashback:

• Merrimack suffocated Assumption's offense in the teams' first meeting, holding the Greyhounds to 42 points in a 30-point triumph. It marked the fewest points allowed by Merrimack since December of 2012
• Five Warriors scored in double figures led by 17 points and nine rebound from Lord. Hayes (13), Boulter (11), sophomore Khalief Crawford (11) and Joyner (10) all also finished in double figures
• Wednesday will be the program's 103^rd all-time meeting. Assumption owns a 59-43 series lead

Scouting the Opposition

Merrimack (14-7, 9-5 NE10)	Stat Category	Assumption (6-15, 2-12 NE10)
76.0	Points Per Game	67.5
67.8	Points Allowed Per Game	71.0
.463	Field Goal Percentage	.449
.361	Three-Point FG Percentage	.371
32.2	Rebounds Per Game	30.1
Juvaris Hayes (19.3 ppg)	Points Leader	Matthew Kelly (14.8 ppg)
Idris Joyner (7.1 rpg)	Rebounds Leader	Branislav Vujadinovic (5.5 rpg)
Hayes (6.5 apg)	Assists Leader	Patrick Fleming (3.1 apg)
Hayes (3.7 spg)	Steals Leader	Vujadinovic (1.6 spg)
Joyner (1.8 bpg)	Blocks Leader	Cal Connelly (0.6 bpg)

 
Up Next:
Merrimack hosts #20/18 Saint Anselm on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Hammel Court, looking to avenge December's defeat to the division leaders. The contest will also be celebrated as Alumni Day, which features a full slate of events for alums of the men's basketball program! All interested attendees are asked to register here.