THE BASICS

- Score: Merrimack 62, Assumption 59

- Record: Merrimack (7-3, 4-2 NE10), Assumption (2-7, 2-5 NE10)

- Location: Worcester, Mass. (Laska Gymnasium)

The Lead: Merrimack scored with just 18 seconds left to grab a one-point lead and held Assumption scoreless on its final two possessions to pull out a 62-59 victory over the Hounds in a tough NE10 matchup on Thursday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- Assumption jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the opening four minutes on a triple in the corner by Damien Rance Melbourne, Australia / Pope John XXIII). Merrimack responded with a 17-3 run to take a 24-15 lead with 9:41 left in the period. Rance ended the run but the Hounds trailed by nine, 31-22, with six minutes remaining.

- Down by seven in the final minute, Rance connected on a shot from downtown to pull Assumption within four. Patrick Fleming (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. / Iona Prep) then stole the ball with time winding down and Declan Soukup (Melbourne, Australia / Hallam Senior College) eventually drained a triple with just two seconds left, to go into the break down one, 36-35.

- The Hounds took a 39-38 lead just minutes into the second half on an offensive rebound and put back by Vujadinovic. Rance then connected on a free throw for the 42-40 advantage three minutes into the period.

- Trailing 47-44, Justin Tuckson (Stafford, Va. / Christ Chapel Academy) and Soukup hit consecutive threes to put Assumption back in front 50-57. The teams continued to trade baskets, until a Fleming layup at 7:20 gave the Hounds a 58-55 advantage. Two free throws by the Warriors over the next four minutes trimmed the lead to one.

- Branislav Vujadinovic (Belgrade, Serbia / St. Joseph) gave Assumption a 59-57 lead with 2:37 on a free throw, before the Warriors tied it up one minute later at the charity stripe. Following a missed Soukup three with less than 30 seconds left, the Warriors got the ball up to Troy McLaughlin for a fastbreak layup with just 18 seconds remaining to pull in front by two.

- Marcus Murray (Washington, D.C. / John F. Kennedy) took the ball to the hole on the ensuing play and a defender was just able to get a piece of it to thwart the scoring attempt. Assumption was forced to foul with seven seconds left, though Merrimack went 1-for-2 from the free throw line. The Hounds pushed the ball and were able to get off a shot in the final two seconds, but it was blocked as the Warriors held on for the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Assumption shot 35.6 percent from the floor in the contest, including 11-for-30 from downtown. Merrimack, meanwhile, went just 4 of 20 from beyond the arc and shot 39.0 overall.

- The Hounds were outrebounded 46-38, but had six steals and recorded assists on 18 of their 21 field goals.

- Rance led the team with 15 points, ten rebounds, four assists and one steal while Murray added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. Vujadinovic chipped in 15 points and six rebounds.

- Fleming did a bit of everything with six points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Soukup posted six points, five assists and four rebounds.

- Anthony Barry led Merrimack with 17 points and 11 boards, while Juvaris Hayes had ten points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

UP NEXT:

- The Hounds return to action on Nov. 17 when they play Holy Family at St. Rose, at 1 pm.

STAY CONNECTED:

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