Links: Box Score
Video: Highlights //
Postgame Press Conference
NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – The Merrimack College men's basketball team increased its winning streak to seven games on Thursday night – the longest for the program in 10 years – with a 61-50 Northeast Conference (NEC) win over St. Francis Brooklyn at Hammel Court. Senior
Juvaris Hayes led the way for the Warriors, posting his first double-double of the season with 19 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. He added five steals and four assists, as well
The Warriors led from start-to-finish on Thursday night, never relinquishing their lead. The team played particularly well on the defensive end in the opening half, holding the Terriers to 16 first-half points. The visitors committed 11 first-half turnovers and shot just 23.3 percent from the field (7-30). Merrimack build a 16-point lead at intermission, 32-16, behind a 50-percent shooting effort from the field (13-26).
Seniors
Idris Joyner and
Jaleel Lord joined Hayes in double figures with 15 and 10 points, respectively. Junior
Devin Jensen was effective from distance, shooting 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc on the night.
Merrimack's winning streak is the longest for the program since an 11-game run during the 2009-10 season. The Warriors improved their first-place record in the NEC to 8-1, holding a one-game lead over second-place Robert Morris (7-2).
The Essentials
Score:
Merrimack 61, St. Francis Brooklyn 50
Records: Merrimack (14-8, 8-1 NEC) | St. Francis Brooklyn (10-11, 4-5 NEC)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
The Visuals
Merrimack welcomed the Hood School Chorus to Thursday's game as the group sang Thursday's National Anthem.
The Warriors distributed commemorative posters to fans in attendance, recognizing the team's marquee win earlier this year at Northwestern
Hayes delivered one of the highlights of the night, rising up to block a Terriers shot as part of Merrimack's 32-16 halftime lead.
Rapid Recap
- Merrimack raced out of the gates, starting the night on a 10-0 run highlighted by five points at the end of the stretch from Lord. St. Francis responded with an 8-1 run, however, making it a one-possession game at 11-8 with 10:35 remaining in the half
- The hosts' lead grew to nine, 19-10, following buckets from Joyner and Jensen. Joyner then stepped back from beyond the arc, drilling a 3-pointer to give the Warriors their third double-digit lead of the opening stanza, 26-14, with 2:41 remaining. Merrimack closed the half strong as well, with Jensen and Lord connecting on back-to-back triples to give the Warriors a 32-16 edge after 20 minutes
- The Terriers hung in over the start of the second half, trimming their deficit to nine, 36-27, at the 16:39 mark. Hayes answered by scoring five straight points, giving Merrimack a 13-point edge with under 14 minutes to play
- Sophomore Mikey Watkins delivered an impressive individual effort, crossing-up a Terrier defender before finding Jensen for a crucial 3-pointer that made it a 49-38 contest at the midway point
- St. Francis had one more push however, clawing its way within four, 54-50, with under three minutes to play. After Jensen's 3-pointer, the Terriers registered a 16-1 run to get back in the game. The Warriors clamped down in the home stretch, holding the visitors scoreless over the final 2:43. Merrimack ended the game on a 7-0 run to secure the win
Notes and Numbers
- Hayes tied his season high for points and set a season high for rebounds on Thursday night
- He became the first player in the nation this season and sixth in the last five years to post a line of at least 19 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and four assists. NBA All-Star Ben Simmons is one of the other players to register a line like that
- Merrimack finished with 11 steals, improving to 9-1 this season when totaling at least thefts in a game
- The 50 points allowed were the second fewest St. Francis has scored this season
- Merrimack's trio of seniors picked up their 74th career win, needing two more to tie the program record as the winningest class in school history
- Hayes brought his career steals total to 421, needing 28 more to set a new NCAA record for career steals
- Joyner increased his double-figure scoring streak to three games; he's scored at least 10 points in seven of nine NEC games
Up Next
Merrimack hosts Long Island University on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Hammel Court on campus, which will be Kids Day on campus presented by Pilot Pen USA. The contest will also be Merrimack's "Gold Rush Giveaway" game, with the first 500 fans in attendance receiving gold Merrimack t-shirts presented by Cedar's.
