NORTH ANDOVER, Massachusetts - The American International College men's basketball team came up on the wrong end of a 74-61 score in a Northeast-10 Conference matchup at Merrimack on Tuesday, January 29.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score:Merrimack 74, AIC 61
Record:AIC falls to 9-12 overall and 5-8 in the NE10; Merrimack rises to 13-7 overall, with an 8-5 record in conference play
Location:Bert Hammel Court, North Andover, Massachusetts

STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Zekiah Owens: 19 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, one steal
Andrew Anderson: 10 points, nine rebounds

Merrimack:
Juvaris Hayes: 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals
Ryan Boulter: 19 points, six rebounds
Jaleel Lord: 12 points, six rebounds

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Warriors used three-point shots to build an early lead, sinking three bids from long range to get ahead 13-8 four minutes into the first half. Junior forward Trevaun Hyatt and junior guard Zekiah Owens each scored four for AIC in those opening minutes. Another three and then a steal extended the Merrimack edge to 18-8 and forced AIC to take a timeout.
• Though the Yellow Jackets were able to sink some shots, Merrimack seemed to have an answer every time; near the midpoint of the half, the Warriors held a 27-18 lead, though a three by rookie guard Isaiah Salter shrank that with 10:18 left in the frame.
• The scoring slowed for Merrimack in the latter stage of the half, and AIC was able to cut the deficit to just five with under three minutes to play, and on the subsequent possession, a fast-break layup by sophomore guard Adonis Williams brought the score to 34-31 Merrimack with 2:37 left, drawing a Warriors timeout.
• Another stop by the defense and a layup by senior forward Andrew Anderson at the other end put AIC just a point behind the Warriors heading into the final minute of the half. Both teams missed on their following possessions, and then Anderson sank two free throws to put the Yellow Jackets ahead 35-34 going into the break.
• The Yellow Jackets opened the second half with a literal bang as Owens threw down a dunk ten seconds in, but the Warriors offense was resilient, taking the lead on back-to-back threes to go ahead 50-45 with 12:20 left in regulation.
• Merrimack continued to expand their edge, taking a 58-49 lead after a free throw by Juvaris Hayes, but a layup by Anderson followed by a three from redshirt freshman guard Bane Terzic brought AIC back within four with 7:11 left in regulation. However, the Warriors responded with a 6-0 run to go ahead 10.
• The Yellow Jackets continued to battle, but could not shrink the deficit, ultimately falling to the Warriors by a 74-61 score.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets will visit Franklin Pierce on Saturday, February 2 at 3:30 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED:

• For more updates on the men's basketball team, follow@AIC_MBBonTwitterandInstagram. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow@AICAthleticsonTwitterandInstagram, and likeAIC Yellow JacketsonFacebook.