| Matchup |
Merrimack (15-8, 9-1 NEC) at FDU (6-15, 4-6 NEC) |
| Date/Time |
Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020 // 7 p.m. |
| Venue |
Teaneck, N.J. // Rothman Center |
| Multimedia |
Watch // Live Stats |
| Social |
Twitter // Instagram |
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Making its first appearance of the year on ESPN3, the Merrimack College men's basketball team faces Fairleigh Dickinson University in a rematch of the double-overtime thriller from two weeks ago on Thursday night. The Northeast Conference (NEC) rivals will square off in Teaneck, N.J. at 7 p.m. tomorrow evening. Merrimack arrives on the Knights' campus with its eight-game winning streak in tow, keeping the Warriors in first place in the NEC with a 9-1 conference record.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Since facing Merrimack, FDU has won two of its last three games including back-to-back victories over Wagner (68-63) and Mount St. Mary's (85-75). Since facing Merrimack, senior Kaleb Bishop scored his 1,000th career point in a Knights uniform. Bishop is the team's second leading scorer 13.8 points per game. Jahlil Jenkins continues to pace the Knights at nearly 15 points per contest, leading the squad in both 3-pointers (30) and free throws (70) made.
HISTORY AGAINST FDU
The first meeting of the regular season went in favor of Merrimack, 74-71, in double overtime at Hammel Court. It marked the first-ever game between the Knights and Warriors; FDU and Merrimack did play in an exhibition to start the 2016-17 season in what was
Joe Gallo's first game as Merrimack's boss. Gallo and FDU head coach Greg Herenda meet once more in a battle of Merrimack graduates. Gallo graduated in 2004 while Herenda finished his played career in 1983.
Matchup Comparison:
| Category |
Merrimack (15-8, 9-1 NEC) |
FDU (6-15, 4-6 NEC) |
| Scoring Offense |
63.3 |
70.3 |
| Scoring Defense |
60.7 |
75.3 |
| Field-Goal % |
42.2% |
44.3% |
| Field-Goal % Defense |
43.1% |
45.1% |
| 3-PT Field Goal % |
31.7% |
33.3% |
| 3-PT Field Goal % Defense |
30.7% |
35.0% |
| 3-PT Field Goals (Made-Attempts) |
170-536 |
141-424 |
| Free-Throw Percentage |
69.3% |
72.1% |
| Winning Percentage |
.652 |
.286 |
| Rebounding Margin |
-7.5 |
-3.8 |
| Assists/Game |
12.3 |
11.2 |
| Steals/Game |
10.4 |
6.0 |
| Turnovers/Game |
12.1 |
13.0 |
| Blocks/Game |
2.7 |
3.4 |
| Total Fouls |
387 |
347 |
MOST WINS EVER?
Merrimack is nearing an unprecedented mark as it moves through its first-ever Division I season. The Warriors need two wins over the remainder of the regular season to eclipse Cal Baptist's 16-win campaign as the most ever for a first-year team reclassifying to Division I. Merrimack has already one-upped Cal Baptist in one area as the Warriors have 14 wins against DI opponents, two more than Cal Baptist did in 2018-19. The Lancera won four games against non-DI foes and 12 games against DI teams.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Merrimack joins Cal Baptist and North Alabama as programs going through the reclassification process to Division I. As part of the process, the Warriors will not be postseason eligible in the NEC and not be able to compete in the conference tournament; Merrimack will, however, count in the regular season standings and have an opportunity to claim a NEC Regular Season Championship. The Warriors are eligible for select postseason tournament such as the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and the College Insider Tournament (CIT).
THE WARRIORS ARE STREAKING
Merrimack's current eight-game winning streak is the longest for the program under fourth-year head coach
Joe Gallo. It is the longest winning streak for the program since 2009-10 season when the Warriors rattled off 11 straight triumphs. The Warriors have the 12th longest active winning streak in the nation. The run of wins also matches Saint Francis University's eight-game winning streak in 2018-19 and Mount St. Mary's eight-game streak in 2016-17 as the longest NEC regular season winning streaks of the last four years.
THE NEW ASSIST KING
With six helpers on against Boston University on Sunday, Dec. 29,
Juvaris Hayes surpassed Darren Duncan '10 as the program's all-time assists leader. Hayes enters Thursday with 889 career helpers. He ranks second in the NEC in assists per game (5.9).
PUTTING THE NEC IN THE ZONE
Led by the nation's leader in steals in
Juvaris Hayes (85), the Warriors' defense has dominated during NEC play. The Warriors led the conference in turnover margin (+5.5) and steals per game (10.5), averaging nearly three more steals than any other team. Merrimack also has the league's best scoring defense at 60.8 points per game. Nationally, Merrimack ranks fourth in turnover margin and tied for fourth in steals per game.
THE RETURN OF THE ROAD WARRIORS
Led by the nation's leader in steals in
Juvaris Hayes (89), the Warriors' defense has dominated during NEC play. The Warriors led the conference in turnover margin (+5.5) and steals per game (10.4), averaging nearly three more steals than any other team. Merrimack also has the league's best scoring defense at 60.7 points per game. Nationally, Merrimack ranks fourth in turnover margin and tied for fourth in steals per game.
MOST WINS IN MASSACHUSETTS
Merrimack begins the week with 15 victories on the season, the most of the eight Division I basketball schools in Massachusetts. The Warriors have two more wins that both Boston University and Harvard University, who start this week with 13 victories apiece. The Warriors also have the third most victories in all of New England, trailing only Vermont (17), Rhode Island (17) and Yale (16).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Merrimack is tied with Illinois State and East Tennessee State with eight different leading scorers on the season. Senior
Idris Joyner became Merrimack's eighth different player to lead the team in scoring at Robert Morris (1/4), and has since done it in six out of the last nine games. Senior
Jaleel Lord leads the team with seven occurrences as the Warriors' top scorer.
DRIS IS COOKING IN CONFERENCE
Joyner has been Merrimack's top scorer in conference play, averaging nearly 15 points per game. His in-league scoring average has increased his overall scoring average to over 10 points per game, aided by a career-best 28-point performance at Saint Francis. He was named College Sports Madness NEC Player of the Week for his efforts two weeks ago.
Up Next:
Despite hosting Long Island University just last Saturday, the Warriors and Sharks meet again this Saturday when Merrimack battles LIU in Brooklyn. Tip-off at the Steinberg Wellness Center is set for 7 p.m.
