SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts-Despite cutting the Merrimack lead to 44-41 with 8:50 left in the game, the American International College men's basketball team dropped a 68-54 decision at home to the Warriors in Northeast-10 Conference action on Tuesday, January 23.
FAST FACTS:
Final score: Merrimack 68, AIC 54
Records: AIC falls to 10-10 overall and 5-7 in NE10 play, Merrimack improves to 13-6 overall and 10-3 in NE10 play.
Location:Butova Gymnasium, Springfield, Massachusetts
STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Jordan Vidal: 13 points, 8-for-10 from the free throw line
Zekiah Owens: 12 points, five rebounds
Andrew Anderson: 11 points, seven rebounds, two blocks
Robert Durant: Nine points, five rebounds, two blocks
Merrimack:
Juvaris Hayes: 13 points, nine rebounds two steals
Khalief Crawford: 13 points, 6-for-6 from the free throw line
Kyle Howes: 11 points
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Down 5-0 to start the game, the Yellow Jackets earned their first points at the 16:59 mark of the game with a layup from Andrew Anderson. After a three-pointer from Jaleel Lord gave the Warriors an 11-4 lead, AIC answered with a layup from Robert Durant, but then Merrimack's Khalief Crawford drained a jumper to put their lead right back to seven points. Minutes later, back to back layups from Anderson and Zekiah Owens cut the Warriors lead to four points with 12:39 left in the first half. Merrimack then proceeded to go on a 6-0 run, growing the lead to double digits.
- After the Yellow Jackets went through a stretch of 3:01 without a field goal, the drought ended with a layup from Anderson to have AIC down just 22-15. Though the Yellow Jackets tried to inch closer late in the half, the Warriors went on an 11-0 run and built a 33-15 cushion with 2:45 remaining before the break. AIC would continue to fight as they went on a 7-0 run of their to end the half down 33-22. Owens was responsible for four of those seven points.
- After Crawford drilled a triple at the 17:38 mark of the second half to have Merrimack up 40-26, Jordan Vidal made a layup cut the deficit to 12. The Yellow Jackets got within six points of the lead when Vidal connected on a three-pointer with 13:20 left in the contest. Down eight points on their next possession, AIC received their next seven points from Durant to put the Warrior's lead at just 44-41 with 8:50 remaining in regulation.
- At the 5:16 mark of the game, Merrimack was able to get their lead back to double digits after two consecutive layups from Juvaris Hayes. After Vidal drained a pair of free throws to bring the Yellow Jackets within 10 points, a three from Troy McLaughlin gave the Warriors a 59-46 advantage with 4:11 left in the game. Merrimack would then go on to score nine consecutive points to increase their lead to 68-46. Despite an 8-0 run from AIC to end the contest, the Warriors would hold onto a 68-54 victory.
GAME NOTES:
- After out-rebounding Merrimack 51-31, AIC has now out-rebounded their opponents in 15 of 20 contests this season.
- With six blocked shots on Tuesday night, the Yellow Jackets have now racked up multiple blocked shots in 12 straight games. Six blocked shots is also tied for their season high, which was also accomplished on November 15 against Le Moyne.
- Jordan Vidal's 13-point performance now marks the 11th time that the freshmen guard has scored in double figures this season.
NEXT UP:
- The Yellow Jackets will look to get back in the win column when they host Franklin Pierce University in an NE10 clash on Saturday, January 27 for a 3:30 p.m. tipoff.
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