Men’s Basketball Advances to Northeast Conference Semifinal After Battle with Long Island

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – The Merrimack College men's basketball team outlasted Long island in the quarterfinal round of the Northeast Conference tournament on Wednesday night, beating the Sharks 72-66. Jordan Derkack led the way for the Warriors scoring 23 points and pulling down 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Adam "Budd" Clark added 18 points and a career-high seven rebounds in the victory. Samba Diallo was the third Merrimack player in double figures with 10 points. The Warriors tied the program's Division I record for wins with 20 set by the 2019-20 team.  
   
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 72 Long Island 66
Records: Merrimack (20-11, 13-3 NEC) | Long Island (7-22, 6-10 NEC)

Rapid Recap

Both teams traded threes to get the scoring going on Wednesday night. After a Shark bucket, Diallo knocked down a three to put the Warriors up one. Devon Savage and Clark then both scored to put Merrimack up five. Long Island battled back to tie the game at 11. The score was then tied again at 13 and 15. The Sharks then went on a nine-point run to go up by three possessions. Merrimack responded by going on  a 13-point run of their own to flip the game and go up by four. Long Island would then tie the game again a 28. Jacob O'Connell scored on a dish from Clark to put the Warriors up two. The teams then battled back and forth. The Sharks jumped on a seven-point run with three minutes to play in the first half. Derkack found the bottom of the net with a three to cut the lead down to four. Merrimack ended the half on a 11-point run to head into halftime up by four.

Diallo scored twice from the free throw line to start the second half putting the Warriors up six. The Sharks then scored the next 11 out of 14 point to go up by one. O'Connell and Jordan McKoy both hit threes to put Merrimack back up by five. A three from Long Island with a little over 10 minutes to play got the lead down to two. The Warriors then jumped on a nine-point run to go up by 10 points. Long Island battled back to pull within one with a minute to play in the game. Some good are throw shooting down the stretch from both Clark and Diallo sealed the game for Merrimack.

Top Performers // Notes

Derkack also had five assists in the victory.

The victory in Lawler Arena extended the win streak in the building to 11 games dating back to last season.

The Warriors forced 18 Shark turnovers and scored 27 points off the takeaways.

Up Next:
Merrimack gets back to action on Saturday afternoon in Lawler Arena for a semifinal matchup with Le Moyne College. Game time is set for noon and will be aired on ESPN+.