Men’s Basketball Sets Sights on #17/17 Saint Anselm on Alumni Day at Hammel Court Saturday

Matchup	Merrimack (15-7, 10-5 NE10) vs. #17/17 Saint Anselm (17-3, 13-2 NE10)
Date/Time	Saturday, February 9, 2019 // 3:00 p.m. (Tickets)
Venue	North Andover, Mass. // Hammel Court
Multimedia	Live Stats // Watch // Twitter // Instagram

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's basketball program will look to take down the leaders of the Northeast Division on Saturday when the No. 17/17 Saint Anselm Hawks arrive at Hammel Court for a 3 p.m. tip-off. The Warriors boast a 10-5 mark in the Northeast-10 Conference, trailing the first-place Hawks (13-2) by three games for the Northeast Division's top spot.

Saturday will be celebrated as Alumni Day, with all past members of the men's basketball program invited back to Hammel Court. The annual Alumni Game will be held following the Warriors' contest with the Hawks, while all alumni who register (at the link below) will receive complimentary food and drink tickets served in Merrimack's Blue Line Club.

Promotions:

• Saturday's game will be celebrated as Alumni Day! All alumni of the men's basketball program are invited back to campus tomorrow! The Blue Line Club with open at 12 p.m., and serve food and drinks throughout the conclusion of the men's game against the Hawks. The annual Alumni Game will follow the action, beginning at approximately 5 p.m.
• To register for Alumni Day, please click here!
• Fan Giveaway - Additionally, the first 100 fans at tomorrow's game will receive a complimentary Merrimack College arm sleeve courtesy of the Athletics Department! For students one giveaway will be distributed per Mack Card. Giveaways are only available while supplies last!

Five Things to Know:

• Merrimack increased its winning streak to three games on Wednesday, holding the Assumption Greyhounds to 55 points in an 18-point win to complete a two-game sweep of the Greyhounds. Four Warriors scored in double figures including 14 points off the bench from freshman Mikey Watkins
• After holding opponents under 65 points in three straight games under 70 in seven straight, Merrimack's scoring defense (67.2) has risen to the top of the Northeast Division; Merrimack is the only team in the Northeast allowing less than 70 points per game and ranks 31^st  nationwide in point allowed. Merrimack is forcing over 17 turnovers per game – leading the NE10 and ranking 22^nd in the country – while also pacing the conference and ranking 24^th in Division II with 9.1 steals per game
• A Bevo Francis Award Top 100 Watch List member, junior point guard Juvaris Hayes posted seven steals Wednesday to increase his nation-leading total to 86, and bring his career total to 296. The point guard is set to become the fourth NE10 player to total 300 career steals. He needs nine more thefts to move into third all-time in the NE10 in career steals (305)
• Hayes is also Merrimack's top offensive player averaging a career-best 19.3 points per game. Senior Ryan Boulter and junior Jaleel Lord follow Hayes in double figures with 13.9 points and 11.3 points per game. The duo have hit 126 3-pointers combined, over 60 percent of Merrimack's production from deep
• Junior Idris Joyner registered four blocks on Wednesday, bringing his season total to 41. He the first Warrior in eight years to finish with at least 40 blocks in a season. Merrimack's top post player is averaging a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game to go along with 9.8 points per contest. The Plainfield, N.J. is shooting a team-high 63.4 percent from the field 

February Flashback:

• Saint Anselm shot its way to victory in the first contest, shooting 55.9 percent from the field and 63.2 percent from 3-point range as part of a 92-81 win
• Merrimack played well offensively, seeing four Warriors score in double figures. Hayes totaled 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while Boulter finished with 15 points on five 3-pointers
• The longest series in program history continues on Saturday, with the Warriors and Hawks facing each other for the 115^th time (67-47 STA)

Scouting the Opposition

Merrimack (15-7, 10-5 NE10)	Stat Category	#17/17 Saint Anselm (17-3, 13-2 NE10)
75.9	Points Per Game	86.3
67.2	Points Allowed Per Game	73.7
.464	Field Goal Percentage	.496
.362	Three-Point FG Percentage	.411
32.5	Rebounds Per Game	39.4
Juvaris Hayes (19.3 ppg)	Points Leader	Tim Guers (21.4 ppg)
Idris Joyner (7.2 rpg)	Rebounds Leader	Guers (7.6 rpg)
Hayes (6.4 apg)	Assists Leader	Guers (5.9 apg)
Hayes (3.9 spg)	Steals Leader	Guers (1.1 spg)
Joyner (1.9 bpg)	Blocks Leader	Two Tied (0.6 bpg)

 
Up Next:
The Warriors will look even their season series with Franklin Pierce on Wednesday, when Merrimack visits the Ravens for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off in Rindge, N.H.