Worcester, Mass. (February 15) -- On Saturday afternoon at Laska Gym,  junior captain Jimmy Zenevitch (Methuen, Mass./Central Catholic) erupted for a career-high 34 points to go along with 10 rebounds in a 68-63 comeback win over visiting Merrimack College. The win gives the Hounds the regular-season series sweep of the Warriors as Assumption has now won three straight in the series.

After a Gelvis Solano jumper in the opening seconds, Assumption embarked on a 14-1 run over the next five minutes to jump ahead 14-3 after a layup from sophomore Tim Kasper (Cologne, Germany/Gymnasium Schloss Hagerhof) with 15:04 remaining in the opening half. A 19-10 Merrimack scoring spurt, capped by a JT Strickland three, pulled the visitors to within 24-22 at the 6:43 mark as it set up a back-and-forth game. The Warriors ended the period on a blistering 17-5 run over the final 6:43, powered by 11 points from Strickland and five from Solano, as Merrimack was in control by a 39-29 halftime margin.

The Hounds shot just 38.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from the free throw line in the first half, while Merrimack shot 53.8 percent and hit 10 of 12 from the free throw line as Strickland posted 15 points in the opening period. Zenevitch led the Hounds with 11 points and seven rebounds as Assumption held a 23-14 first-half edge on the boards.

In the second half, Zenevitch erupted for 23 points to get the Hounds right back into the game. After two baskets from freshman Marcus Murray (Silver Spring, Md./John F. Kennedy) pulled Assumption within six just 2:49 into the half, Zenevitch connected on a layup for a 39-35 margin with 16:16 remaining. Assumption made it a one-possession game moments later after a pair of free throws by senior Emiliano Void (Montreal, Quebec/Lockeport Regional), followed by a pair of Kasper free throws at the 11:25 mark that tied the game for the third time at 43-43. Zenevitch gave the Hounds a 47-45 mark with just over nine minutes left before the Warriors answered and held the lead until 3:37 after another basket from Zenevitch.

Merrimack kept the pressure up and again led by three at 63-60 with 1:32 after a jumper from sophomore Troy Hammel before the Hounds chipped away. A Zenevitch hoop with 1:01 left cut the edge to one, followed by a defensive stand that gave the hosts the ball with a chance to take the lead. Assumption pounded the ball inside to Zenevitch for the go-ahead hoop with 23.5 seconds left, followed by a steal from Void and an Assumption timeout as the senior battled for the loose ball on the floor. Murray hit two free throws with 16 seconds on the clock and after a missed three from Merrimack's Anthony Barry, Void hit two free throws with 2.5 left to cap the rally for the five-point victory.

Assumption shot 45.3 percent from the field for the game while hitting 20-of-27 from the free throw line. Merrimack connected at a rate of 42.9 percent from the field, but shot 90.5 percent from the charity stripe at 19-for-21. The Hounds held a large 41-24 lead on the glass, including 14-2 at the offensive end as Assumption had 13 second-chance points.

Zenevitch posted his 34-point, 10-rebound double-double for his fourth double-double of the year as he was 13-for-20 from the field. Murray added 12 points and a team-best five assists, along with 10 points and seven boards from Kasper. Strickland led four Warriors with 19 points to go along with 14 off the bench from Barry and 10 each from Solano and Hammel.

With the win, Assumption improves to 7-16 overall and 5-13 in Northeast-10 play, while Merrimack falls to 8-15 overall and 6-12 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on Wednesday, February 19th as the Hounds host Saint Michael's College for a 7:30 p.m. start at Laska Gym. The game is the program's Senior Night as the Hounds will honor the team's lone senior, Emiliano Void, prior to the start of the game.

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