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Postgame Press Conference
NORTH ANODVER, Mass. – Sophomore
Mykel Derring scored a career-high 19 points – 16 of which came in the second half – on Thursday night to lead the Merrimack College men's basketball program to a 62-51 win over Fairleigh Dickinson University in Northeast Conference (NEC) action at Hammel Court. The Warriors overcame a three-point halftime deficit, using an 11-0 run early in the second half to take control of the game for good.
The Warriors improved to 2-3 (2-3 NEC) on the year while FDU dropped to 2-7 (1-2 NEC). Derring led all scorers with 19 points, hitting five 3-pointers including four in the second half alone. Sophomore
Jordan Minor added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, collecting his second double-double of the season.
Merrimack dispelled FDU in the second half, outscoring the Knights by a 37-23 margin. The Warriors' defense held the Knights to 29.6 percent shooting (8-27) while shooting 50 percent (12-24) on the offensive end of the floor. Derring and senior
Devin Jensen combined to shoot 5-of-9 from the beyond the arc over the final 20 minutes.
The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 62, Fairleigh Dickinson 51
Records: Merrimack (2-3, 2-3 NEC) | Fairleigh Dickinson (2-7, 1-2 NEC)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
Rapid Recap
- The first five minutes of the game belonged to the Warriors, who scored nine straight at one point. Four different players scored during the run, including a 3-pointer Derring, his first of five on the night. FDU climbed back into the game, however, taking its first lead at the 10:28 mark. The Knights used a 10-2 run of their own to take the advantage
- The Knights' lead grew to as many as five, 21-16, with eight minutes to play, but Merrimack would hold the visitors to just seven points over the remainder of the first half. The Warriors were within a point, 21-20, after a Jordan McKoy jumper, but FDU recovered to extend its edge back to five, 28-23, with under two minutes remaining. Minor scored the last points of the half to bring Merrimack within a possession, 28-25
- Facing a 30-25 deficit, Merrimack roared forward with an 11-0 run. Jensen started the stretch with a 3-pointer and Derring ended it with back-to-back triples. The Warriors led, 36-32, with 14:38 remaining. Minor finished an impressive put-back three minutes later, giving the Warriors a 44-35 advantage with 11 minutes left
- Jensen hit a layup with 7:56 on the clock, putting Merrimack ahead by double digits for the first time, 51-39. The advantage never dipped below 10 points the rest of the night. Later on, Derring scored five straight points to increase Merrimack's lead to 15, which would be the largest of the evening. The second-year guard finished the second half with 16 of Merrimack's 37 points, hitting 5-of-8 from the field in the final stanza
Notes and Numbers
- Derring's output bested his previous high of 14, set as a freshman last season against Bryant. He also set single-game career highs in shots made (6) and 3-pointers made (5), while tying single-game highs with four rebounds and two assists
- Minor's second double-double of the season was also the second of his career. He has scored in double figures in three of five games this year, while the big man has at least seven rebounds in all but one contest this season
- Both of Merrimack's wins have occurred while trailing at halftime
- The Warriors allowed a season-low 51 points. The program has now allowed 60 points or fewer 18 times since joining the NEC, doing so in 50 percent of the team's total games (36) at the Division I level
- Merrimack improved to 3-0 against FDU as Division I foes
- Jensen added three steals to go along with eight points. He has 13 thefts through five games after totaling 20 all of last season
Up Next
The Warriors return to action tomorrow when Merrimack plays FDU once more. Tip-off at Hammel Court is scheduled for 4 p.m.
