| Matchup |
Merrimack (16-8, 10-1 NEC) at LIU (10-13, 5-5 NEC) |
| Date/Time |
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 // 4:30 p.m. |
| Venue |
Brooklyn, N.Y. // Steinberg Wellness Center |
| Multimedia |
Watch // Live Stats |
| Social |
Twitter // Instagram |
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – For the second time in a week, the Merrimack College men's basketball team will play Long Island University. The Warriors will visit the Sharks this time around in Northeast Conference (NEC) play, battling LIU at 4:30 p.m. at the Sharks' Steinberg Wellness Center. Merrimack brings its first-place NEC record (10-1) and nine-game winning streak - tied for the ninth longest in the nation - into the matchup.
SCOUTING THE SHARKS
In the midst of a four-game-in-five-day stretch, Long Island fell to Mount St. Mary's, 67-63, in a game played in Brooklyn. Long Island's starting five contributed all of its scoring, with Raiquan Clark leading the way with 20 points and eight rebounds. Clark has maintained his NEC-leading scoring average of 20.4 points per game while teammate Tyrn Flowers boasts 14.2 points per outing. The duo are the most potent scoring combination in the NEC this season.
HISTORY AGAINST LIU
Merrimack and LIU met for the first time last Saturday, with Merrimack coming away with a 70-59 win. The Warriors' defense held the Sharks' offense - who at the time led the NEC in scoring offense - to a season low in scoring in NEC play. Senior
Jaleel Lord scored a team-best 18 points and freshman
Ziggy Reid contributed 13 points as well.
Matchup Comparison:
| Category |
Merrimack (16-8, 10-1 NEC) |
LIU (10-13, 5-5 NEC) |
| Scoring Offense |
63.1 |
76.6 |
| Scoring Defense |
60.4 |
77.1 |
| Field-Goal % |
42.2% |
44.7% |
| Field-Goal % Defense |
42.9% |
44.0% |
| 3-PT Field Goal % |
31.9% |
33.7% |
| 3-PT Field Goal % Defense |
31.6% |
33.0% |
| 3-PT Field Goals (Made-Attempts) |
179-561 |
224-665 |
| Free-Throw Percentage |
69.3% |
70.5% |
| Winning Percentage |
.667 |
.435 |
| Rebounding Margin |
-6.8 |
-5.9 |
| Assists/Game |
12.5 |
14.4 |
| Steals/Game |
10.3 |
6.8 |
| Turnovers/Game |
12.3 |
14.3 |
| Blocks/Game |
2.8 |
3.4 |
| Total Fouls |
299 |
398 |
MOST WINS EVER?
Merrimack is nearing an unprecedented mark as it moves through its first-ever Division I season. The Warriors have officially tied 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 15 wins against DI opponents, three more than Cal Baptist did in 2018-19. The Lancers 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 nine-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 ninth longest active winning streak in the nation. The run of wins also is the longest regular season winning streak in the NEC since 2014-15, matching a nine-game run that eventual regular season champion St. Francis Brooklyn went that year.
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 899 career helpers. He moved into the NEC lead after Thursday's 10-assist game with 145 total helpers. With one more assist he will become the 22nd player in NCAA history with 900 career assists.
PUTTING THE NEC IN THE ZONE
Led by the nation's leader in steals in
Juvaris Hayes (91), the Warriors' defense has dominated during NEC play. The Warriors led the conference in turnover margin (+5.3) and steals per game (10.3), averaging nearly three more steals than any other team. Merrimack also has the league's best scoring defense at 60.4 points per game. Nationally, Merrimack ranks fourth in turnover margin and fifth in steals per game.
THE RETURN OF THE ROAD WARRIORS
With Merrimack's current run, the Warriors became the first NEC team since Wagner in 2017-18 to sweep the daunted "Western PA" trip to Robert Morris and Saint Francis. The Warriors have eight true road victories on the year, sitting in a tie for second in the nation in road wins. Merrimack is also a perfect 5-0 in NEC road games, one of only 11 teams nationally with a perfect conference road record (minimum five games played). The other 10 teams on the list? Just Vermont, #6 Dayton, #5 Louisville, #1 Baylor, #12 Seton Hall, #RV Winthrop, #4 San Diego State, #RV Stephen F. Austin, #2 Gonzaga and New Mexico State.
MOST WINS IN MASSACHUSETTS
Merrimack begins the weekend with 16 victories on the season, the most of the eight Division I basketball schools in Massachusetts. The Warriors have two more wins that Boston University, who rank second in the state with 14 wins. The Warriors also have the third most victories in all of New England, trailing only Vermont (18) and Rhode Island (17).
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 seven out of the last 10 games. Joyner and Lord are tied for the team lead by leading the team in scoring on seven different occasions.
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:
The Warriors return to Brooklyn next Thursday when the Warriors battle the Terriers of St. Francis Brooklyn. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
