Men's Basketball Downs Stonehill In NEC Matchup

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – The Merrimack College men's basketball team won its 10th game of the season on Thursday night against Stonehill College 56-43. The Warriors forced 21 Skyhawk turnovers in the victory. Jordan Minor won the leading scorer for Merrimack after dropping 16 points. The fourth year big man also grabbed 10 rebounds for his 10th double double of the season. Ziggy Reid scored 13 points after knocking down seven of his eight free throws. Javon Bennett was the only other Warrior in double figures with 10 points.

The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 56, Stonehill College 43
Records: Merrimack (10-16, 8-4 NEC) Stonehill College (12-15, 8-4 NEC)
Location: Hammel Court

Rapid Recap

• Devon Savage got the scoring going for Merrimack in the first with a jumper. Both team then went scoreless for four minutes, until Minor gave his defender a good point move, scoring his first two of the night. Stonehill finally broke its scoreless streak at the 14 minute mark. A Savage three gave the Warriors an early five-point lead. After allowing the Skyhawks to get within two, Bennett found the bottom of the net with a three to put Merrimack up five. After some back and forth, Stonehill got the lead down to just one. Jordan Derkack hit a three to push the advantage back up to four. With the score tied at the two and a half minute mark, Reid hit a three to give Merrimack back the lead. The Warriors went into halftime up by one.
• Savage and Minor combined for a four-point run to start the second half, to push the lead up to six. After a Skyhawk two, Merrimack went on a eight-point run capped off with a Reid three. Stonehill scored, but Bennett answered with a three of his own to swell the lead to 13 points. A Minor layup later in the half gave Merrimack its biggest lead at 15. Both teams then battled back and forth for a number of minutes. Jordan McKoy then hit his first three of the night making the lead 14. Minor then scored four straight to go up 18. Stonehill got the lead back down to 13 at the three minute mark, but the effort was not enough. The Warriors would win the game by 13.

Notes and Numbers

• Bennett finished the game with four steals.
• Reid and Minor were the only two Merrimack players to shoot free throws.
• Derkack went 2-3 from long range.

Up Next
The Warriors jump on the road to take on Saint Francis (PA) on Saturday. Game time is set for 4 p.m.