NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. –
Mikey Watkins drove down the floor with just seconds remaining and went up and under once he got to the hoop to give Merrimack men's basketball the lead with just three seconds remaining. The score ended up being the game winner.
Mykel Derring scored 23 points after knocking down a season-high seven three-pointers. The Boston native added to the Warriors 16 makes from beyond the arc. Watkins had 16 points and added a season-high nine assists.
Ziggy Reid scored 15 points after going a perfect 6-6 from the field, including going 3-3 from deep.
Jordan Minor had his 12
th double-double of the season after scoring 11 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. The junior forward added six blocks to his already Northeast Conference (NEC) 76 on the season.
The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 80, Sacred Heart 79
Records: Merrimack (13-15, 9-7 NEC) | Sacred Heart (8-19, 4-10 NEC)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
Rapid Recap
- Derring got the Warrior scoring going with a three right out of the gate. On the next offensive possession Reid followed up with his first make of the afternoon to give Merrimack an early six-point advantage. Derring hit this second three from deep to go up nine, causing a Sacred Heart timeout. Out of the timeout the Pioneers responded by going on a six-point run to cut the lead to three. Minor posted up his defender and scored, increasing the Warrior lead to five. Sacred Heart tied the game up at the 13 minutes mark. On the next offensive possession the Pioneers took a three point lead, their first of the game. After a steal by Nick Filchner, Watkins knocked down a three after a dish from Malik Edmead, sending the Warriors up three. With nine minutes to play Reid found the bottom of the net from deep to send Merrimack up six. Sacred Heart battled back to tie the game at 24. Derring hit yet another first half three giving Merrimack back the lead. On the next offensive possession the Pioneers tied the game up once again. Both teams battled back and forth for the final three minutes tying the game at 36 with two minutes to play. Back-to-back threes by Derring and Reid gave the Warriors a six-point lead with under a minute to play. Sacred Heart cut it to three right before halftime.
- The Warriors opened the second half by going on a nine-point run, capped off by a Watkins three. Both teams went back and forth for a number of minutes, Merrimack not letting Sacred Heart to get within 10. A Reid fast break dunk gave the Warriors their biggest lead of the afternoon at 12. About a minute later Minor found a lane in the paint to increase the advantage by two. Sacred Heart jumped on a seven-point run to go down by seven. Edmead scored on a jumper to go back up nine. With nine minutes to play the Pioneers cut the lead to five. A minute later, Jordan McKoy hit his first three of the game to increase the lead to eight. A Watkins layup with five minutes put Merrimack up by 10. Sacred Heart then scored six straight points to go down by four with three minutes left. With a minute and thirty seconds left in the game the Warriors lead by four. A Sacred Heart three pulled them within one with under a minute left. The Pioneers then found the bottom of the net on a post move to give them a one-point lead with nine seconds left. Watkins drove the length of the court and scored on an up and under move, giving Merrimack a one-point lead and win.
Notes and Numbers
- Minor earned his NEC leading 12th double-double of the season in the victory.
- The Warriors continue their undefeated streak when shooting over 50% from the field. The streak stands at six games.
- The Warriors scored 21 points in the paint.
- The Warriors forced 13 Knight turnovers and scored 21 points off the turnovers.
Up Next
Merrimack gets back to action next week when the squad heads down to Long Island for a NEC matchup with the Sharks. Game time is set for 7p.m. and can be seen on NEC Front Row.
