Men's Basketball Tripped Up By Rider Friday

North Andover, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's basketball was defeated by Rider University on Friday night in the penultimate home game of the season. Adam "Budd" Clark was once again the leading scorer for the Warriors after dropping 26 points in the defeat. Junior forward Bryan Etumnu added 18 points after knocking down seven shots from the field. Devon Savage was the third Merrimack player in double figures with 10 points in the loss.

The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 78, Rider 83
Records: Merrimack (15-14, 12-6 MAAC) | Rider (11-18, 7-11 MAAC)
Location: Lawler Arena

Rapid Recap

• The Broncs jumped out to an early five-point lead. Savage found the bottom of the net with a three to cut the lead down to two. Savage then converted on a layup to tie the game at five. After both teams traded buckets, Clark drove the lane for two. Rider answered with six straight points to go up by four. Malik Edmead then found the bottom of the net with a three to make it a one-point game. With 12 and a half minutes to play in the first half, the Broncs were up five. Tye Dorset hit a three to cut the advantage down to two. Clark then scored on a layup, tying the game at 19. Rider added six point to go up three possessions. With nine minutes to play, the Broncs were up six. The Warriors then went on a nine-point run to flip the game and go up by three. Rider quickly answered back with a three to tie the game at 30. Both teams battled for a number of minutes, the score remained tied with five minutes to go in the first. Clark and Matt Becht combined for a five-point run, putting Merrimack up by two possessions. After a jumper from the Broncs, Becht nailed another three to put the Warriors back up six. Rider ended the half on a four-point run to head into halftime down by two.
• Out of halftime, the Broncs scored four of the first seven points to go up by one. The Warriors then jumped on a five-point run to go up by four. Rider added two points to cut it to a one-possession contest. Clark drove the lane for two putting Merrimack up five. A three by the Broncs made it a one-point game five minutes into the second half. The Warriors added four points to take a five-point advantage. Rider answered back with four points of their own to once again make it a one-point game. After back and forth play from both teams, the game was tied at 59 with 12 minutes to play. After a run from the Broncs they found themselves up by six with eight minutes left in the game. A three from Etumnu cut the lead down to three. Rider would battle back getting the lead back up to six. Becht found the bottom of the net with a deep three, making it a one-possession contest. Clark followed up with a drive in the lane, making the advantage one with four minutes to go in the game. Rider then nailed a three pushing the lead back up to four. Clark answered the bell hitting a three, making the lead just one. With under a minute to play, the Broncs added four points, going up by five. Savage knocked down a three with 26 seconds left in the game, putting the Warriors down two. Free throw shooting down the stretch from Rider would give them a five-point win.
   

Notes and Numbers

• In addition to his 26 points, Clark also finished the game with eight assists and five steals.
• The Warriors forced 13 turnovers and scored 20 points off the giveaways.
• Sean Trumper led the team with five rebounds.

Up Next
Merrimack stays at home to take on Quinnipiac University on Sunday afternoon. Game time is set for 2 p.m.