Clark Drops Career-High 32 in Comeback Victory Over Niagara

North Andover, Mass. – Adam "Budd" Clark finished the game with a career-high 32 points as well as a career-high seven rebounds in five-point victory over Niagara University on Thursday night. Sean Trumper was the only other Warrior in double figures with 13 points in the victory.


The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 64, Niagara 59
Records: Merrimack (13-10, 10-2 MAAC) | Niagara (8-14, 3-8 MAAC)
Location: Lawler Arena  

Rapid Recap

• The Purple Eagles found themselves up four, three minutes into the game. David Murray scored two, to get the lead down to two. Murray added another layup to tie the game at six. Clark drove the lane for two, giving Merrimack its first lead of the game. Both teams battled back and forth for a number of minutes. With 10 minutes to go in the first half Niagara was up six. Trumper added two free throws to cut the lead down to four. A layup from the Purple Eagles brought the lead back up to six. Bryan Etumnu knocked down a three to make it a one possession game. Clark then added four straight points to give Merrimack a one-point advantage. Niagara ended the first half on a seven-point run to head into halftime up six.
• The teams traded buckets early on in the second half to keep the deficit at eight. Clark then went on a personal four-point run to cut the lead to four. The Purple Eagles went on a five-point run to go up nine. The Warriors answered with four-points of their own to get the advantage down to five. The lead was seven with 12 minutes left in the game. Merrimack then went on a five-point run to cut it down to a one possession game. After a Niagara bucket, Matt Becht hit three throws to make it a one-point game. The teams went back and forth. The lead did not get above six or below four. With six and a half minutes left in the game Clark drove the lane for two, making it a three-point game. After a free throw, Clark scored four points by himself to tie the game at 52. Niagara hit two three throws to go back up two. Trumper converted on an and one, giving the Warriors back the lead with three minutes to play. The Purple Eagles answered with a three to go up two. On the next offensive possession, Tumper drove the lane for two, tying the game at 59. With under a minute, Clark found a hole in the defense, scoring easily, giving Merrimack a two-point lead. After a defensive stop, Etumnu knocked down a free throw, making it a three-point advantage. The Warriors converted another stop on the defensive end. Clark then knocked down two free throws, icing the game for Merrimack.
   

Notes and Numbers

• Clark matched his career-high with six steals in the victory.
• Etumnu had six points and seven rebounds in the win.
• The Warriors forced 17 turnovers and scored 15 points off the giveaways.

Up Next
Merrimack stays at home to take on Canisius University on Saturday afternoon. Game time is set for 3 p.m.