NORTH ADOVER, MASS. –
Jordan Minor scored a career-high 28 points in the Merrimack College men's basketball loss to Central Connecticut State University on Thursday night. Minor went 12-18 from the field and also knocked down four free throws. The Kingston, Mass native added 11 rebounds to his stat line for his ninth double-double of the season and his third in a row.
Mykel Derring was the only other Warrior in double figures, scoring 10 points after knocking down three three-pointers and a free throw.
Ziggy Reid added six points in the defeat.
The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 57, Central Connecticut 60
Records: Merrimack (9-15, 5-7 NEC) | Central Connecticut (7-18, 4-8 NEC)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
Rapid Recap
- The Blue Devils started the game on a five-point run. Minor added his first two points of the night on a layup. Derring followed up with his first three on the next offensive possession to tie the game. Minor gave the Warriors the lead on a fast break lay in. Both teams battled back and forth. The Blue Devils took a two-point lead with just under 15 minutes left in the first half. Minor then went on a four-point run to swing the lead back in Merrimack's favor, sending the Warriors up by two. Central Connecticut then went on an eight-point run to go up by six. Merrimack responded by adding six-points and tying the game at 18. Mikey Watkins tied the game with a layup. The Blue Devils took the lead with a jumper. Minor responded with a post move in the paint for two. Central Connecticut went up three with three and a half minutes to play until halftime. Malik Edmead cut the advantage to one after a strong take to the hoop. Minor and Edmead combined for a four-point run sending the Warriors up by three with under a minute to play. The Blue Devils knocked down a jumper right before halftime, giving the Warriors a one-point lead after the first 20 minutes.
- Two free throws by the Blue Devils started the scoring in the second half. Jordan McKoy found the bottom of the net on a three ball to send the Warriors up two. Central Connecticut tied the game up on a layup. The Blue Devils then scored 13 unanswered points to take the lead with just over 13 minutes left in the game. The comeback started with a Minor layup to send the Warriors down by 11. A three on the next Central Connecticut possession made the lead 14. Merrimack then went on an 8-0 run, highlighted by a Derring and one on a three-point shot. The Warriors found themselves down just six. A three by the Blue Devils swelled the advantage back up to nine. Reid answered with a three on the next Merrimack possession to go back down six. A jumper by Central Connecticut sent the Blue Devils back up eight. Devin Jensen answered with his first points of the game on a backdoor cut to slice it back to six. Two free throws by Reid got the lead down to four. With 32 seconds to play, Minor scored in the lane and was fouled, he knocked down the free throw. Merrimack was down three. Some good free throw shooting down the stretch by Central Connecticut gave them a three-point win.
Notes and Numbers
- Minor's 28 points are the most points scored for the Warriors since his teammate Reid had 29 against St. Francis Brooklyn last season.
- The Warriors forced 15 Blue Devil turnovers and scored 15 points off of them.
- Merrimack scored 34 points in the paint during the victory.
Up Next
The Warriors get back to action of Saturday afternoon when they head down to New York to take on Wagner College. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
