NORTHEAST CONFERENCE CHAMPS: Men’s Basketball Takes Home Conference Championship in Battle with Fairleigh Dickinson

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – On Tuesday night the Merrimack College men's basketball team won its first Northeast Conference title in a game over Fairleigh Dickinson University, 67-66. Jordan McKoy scored his only points of the night with a free throw late in the game to clinch the championship for the Warriors. Ziggy Reid had a game-high 23 points after going 9-15 from the field. Jordan Minor dropped 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the victory. Freshman point guard Javon Bennett was the third Merrimack player in double figures with 11 points. Due to NCAA transition rules, the Warriors will not be eligible for the NCAA tournament, even after winning their division. Merrimack finished the season on an 11-game winning streak.

The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 67, Fairleigh Dickinson 66
Records: Merrimack (18-16, 12-4 NEC) Fairleigh Dickinson (19-15, 10-6 NEC)
Location: Lawler Arena

Rapid Recap
● The Warriors jumped out to a quick five-point lead after a jumper from Minor and a three from Savage. The Knights battled back taking a one-point lead, 8-7. With 10 minutes to go in the first half, the score was tied at 13. Both teams then battle back and forth tying the game on multiple occasions. Fairleigh Dickinson jumped out to a five-point advantage with three and a half minutes left before halftime. The Knights would head into the locker room up by two.

● After a Fairleigh Dickinson bucket to start the second half, Bennett found the bottom of the net with a three to cut the lead down to one. Jordan Derkack then drove the lane and scored to put Merriack up one. Like the first half, both teams battled back and forth tying the game multiple times. A Bennett layup and Minor dunk with 12 minutes to play gave the Warriors a four-point lead. The Knights came back to take a one-point lead. Derkack knocked down a free throw to tie the game at 48. Reid the scored to send Merrimack up by two. With four and a half minutes to play Fairleigh Dickinson was up by five. Two free throws from Bennett cut the advantage down to three. A three with three minutes to play increased the Knight lead to seven. Reid then matched a three to cut the deficit to four. Derkack then hit a free throw and Minor converted on a three-point play to tie the game at 66. With eight seconds left McKoy was foul on a rebound, went to the line and knocked down one of two free throws. The one free throw was good enough to get Merrimack the win and the championship.

Notes and Numbers
● Derkack finished the game with a team-high 13 rebounds.
● The Warriors forced nine Fairleigh Dickinson turnovers.
● MaKoy scored just one point in the game and it turned out to be the game winning shot.