THE BASICS:

- Score: Merrimack 80, Assumption 74

- Record: Merrimack (18-8, 12-7 NE10), Assumption (6-20, 4-15 NE10)

- Location: North Andover, Mass. (Hammel Court)

The Lead: Assumption trailed by five points at the half but came back to take a one-point lead in the final seven minutes before ultimately coming up short 80-74 to Merrimack this Wednesday on the road.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- Assumption opened the game with an 8-5 lead, and a Justin Tuckson (Stafford, Va. / Christ Chapel Academy) three extended the lead to 12-7 at 13:36. The Hounds then led 17-12 before with 10:46 left, before eight straight points by Merrimack gave them a 20-17 advantage at 8:06.

- The two teams traded baskets over the next five minutes, and a triple from Branislav Vujadinovic (Belgrade, Serbia / St. Joseph) put Assumption back in front 28-27. Merrimack answered by outscoring the Hounds 11-5 over the rest of the period for a 38-33 lead at the break.

- Merrimack extended its lead to 12 points just three minutes into the second and led 56-45 at 14:11. Damien Rance (Melbourne, Australia / Pope John XXIII) scored on a three-point play, jumpstarting a 12-3 run to pull within two on a pair of free throws at 11:08.

- Assumption continued to score effectively and tied the game on a Malik Brown (Waldorf, Md. / Northpoint) layup at 7:46. Vujadinovic gave the Hounds a one point lead a minute later, but the Warriors answered with a 7-2 run. Patrick Fleming (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. / Iona Prep) made it a two-point game, 76-74, with 2:43 left but Assumption was unable score again as they fell by, six, 80-74.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Assumption shot 42.6 percent from the floor and was 12 of 28 from long distance but Merrimack made 50 percent of its shots and was 7 of 18 from downtown.

- The Hounds held a 33-31 advantage on the boards and had 19 assists but turned the ball over eight more times than the Warriors (18-10).

- Rance put up 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Vujadinovic scored 18 points on six triples, to go with four assists and two rebounds. Karl Ziegler (Annandale, Va. / Annandale) was also in double figures with 11 points and five rebounds.

- Fleming posted seven rebounds, seven assists and two points while Brown scored five points with two rebounds in eight minutes off the bench.

- Ryan Boulter led Merrimack with 21 points and nine rebounds while Juvaris Hayes added four points, six rebounds and 11 assists.

UP NEXT:

- Assumption returns to action on Saturday when the team travels to play St. Michael's at 3:30 pm.

STAY CONNECTED:

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