Bennett's Late Three Propels Men's Basketball to Win Over Central Connecticut

NEW BRITIAN, CONN. – Freshman point guard Javon Bennett knocked down a deep three with just over a second remaining in the game to give Merrimack College men's basketball a 64-61 victory over Central Connecticut State University on Thursday night. Bennett finished the game with 12 points. Devon Savage had a career-high 17 points after knocking down five of seven threes. Bennett and Savage also tied for the team lead in rebounds with eight. Jordan Derkack had 14 points and went six of eight from the free throw line. Jordan Minor had eight points and six rebounds in the victory.

The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 64, Central Connecticut 61
Records: Merrimack (7-15, 5-3 NEC) Central Connecticut (5-17, 3-5 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium

Rapid Recap

• Merrimack started the game on a six-point run that included a dunk by Derkack and a three from Savage. The Blue Devils added seven points of their own take the lead by one. Jaylen Stinson hit a three with 13 minutes left in the first half to put the Warriors up two. Both teams went back and forth, both tying the game on multiple occasions. Merrimack then added seven point to go up seven. Central Connecticut came back to cut it down to one. Every punch the Warriors threw, the Blue Devils threw one back. The score ended up tied at 32 heading into halftime.
• The start of the second half started a lot like the first, two teams going back and forth, neither letting the other get more than a one possession lead. Savage hit a three with 13 minutes left in the game to put Merrimack up a score. After a Central Connecticut three, Savage hit another to send the Warriors up three once again. With the score tied at 48, Derkack and Minor combined for a four-point run to go up two possessions. After a Blue Devil score, Bennett went on a five-point run by himself to make the lead seven. Central Connecticut battled back, tying the game at 61 with 43 seconds left in the game. Bennett then hit a three with just under two seconds left in the game to seal the deal for Merrimack.

Notes and Numbers

• The Warriors forced 14 Blue Devil turnovers.
• Both teams finished the game with 31 rebounds.
• Stinson added seven points in the win.

Up Next
 
Merrimack gets back to action on Saturday afternoon against Fairleigh Dickinson at 3 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN3.