Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Merrimack College closed the game with a 6-3 burst to secure a 62-57 win over the American International College men's basketball team Wednesday night at Butova Gymnasium. Senior forward #Aikeem Vanderhorst# (Bay Shore, N.Y.) scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed 10 boards to lead the Yellow Jackets.

The Warriors (8-3, 6-2 NE-10) went on an early 13-0 run to open a 24-10 lead midway through the first half, but AIC answered with a 16-6 run over the final 9:24 to pull back within four at the half, 30-26. The Yellow Jackets opened the second half with an 8-2 run over the first 2:31 of the period before Merrimack went on a 7-2 run of its own to regain the lead for good.

A 6-0 spurt pushed the Warriors' lead to 12, 49-37, with 8:29 to go, but AIC battled back and pulled back within two after a four-point play for junior guard #Byron Rchards# (Adelphia, Md.). He hit a three from the corner as he was fouled and converted the free throw to make it a 56-54 contest with 2:23 left in the game.

The two teams traded makes in the closing minutes and senior guard Darren Duncan (Briarwood, N.Y.) made a pair of free throws with six seconds on the clock for the 62-57 final.

Duncan finished the game with 19 points and seven boards to lead Merrimack, while junior guard Darin Mency (Hagerstown, Md.) added 13 points. Sophomore guard Roland Davis (Deer Park, N.Y.) added 12 points, seven boards and three assists.

Richards finished the game with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, including a 4-for-6 performance from beyond the arc, and freshman guard #Ricky Hudson# (Sewell, N.J.) added 11 points with four rebounds.

The Warriors shot 43.8 percent (21-48) from the floor and 80 percent (16-20) from the line, while AIC shot just 33.9 percent (20-59) from the field and 47.6 percent (10-21) from the charity stripe.

The Yellow Jackets will next travel to Southern New Hampshire University Sunday for a 3:30 p.m. Northeast-10 contest.