Friday, December 22
North Andover, Mass.
2 p.m.
Bucknell University
3-9,0-0Patriot
52
at
68
Merrimack
6-7,0-0NEC
1
2
F
Bucknell
16
36
52
Merrimack
34
34
68
Photo by: Jon Lambert
Men’s Basketball Falls to Merrimack on Road, 68-52
12/22/2023 4:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Jordan Derkack logged 21 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and five steals to lead defending Northeast Conference champion Merrimack to a 68-52 win over visiting Bucknell on Friday afternoon at Lawler Arena. Noah Williamson had 14 points and eight rebounds, and Jack Forrest finished with 12 points and six boards for the Bison in their final non-conference road game of the regular season.
Merrimack (6-7) came into the game ranked 14th nationally in steals thanks to an active zone that creates havoc in the half-court, and Bucknell had ball-control issues right from the start. The Warriors led 6-0 before the Bison attempted their first shot of the game, and seven turnovers in the first seven minutes led to a quick 16-2 lead for the home team.
It was a 21-4 game when Jack Forrest connected on Bucknell's first 3-pointer of the day. The teams traded points for the next nine minutes, with Elvin Edmonds' 3-pointer bringing the Bison within 30-16 with 1:07 to go. Jaylen Stinson's 4-point play with 31 seconds left made it 34-16, and after a turnover on the inbounds, Bucknell had to close the half with a stop to keep the margin at 18 at the break.
Merrimack led by as many as 26 in the second half before the Bison went on a 14-5 run, pulling within 59-42 on Forrest's set of three free throws. Bucknell got as close as 15 on an Edmonds layup with just over a minute to go.
Bucknell turned the ball over 20 times, and Merrimack finished with a 28-3 edge in points off turnovers. The offensive disruption also led to some shooting struggles, as the Bison hit 2 of 17 attempts from the 3-point arc and shot 40.7 percent overall. Merrimack shot 45.6 percent from the floor and went 9-for-30 from downtown.
The Bison did amass a 42-24 rebounding edge, led by Williamson's eight and six from Forrest and Pip Ajayi.
Devon Savage hit four of Merrimack's nine 3-pointers and scored 16 points off the bench, and Stinson added 13 points.
Now 3-9 against a tough schedule, Bucknell will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 30 at home against Saint Peter's. That will be the first of three straight home games, with Patriot League rivals Holy Cross and American on deck after New Year's.
Merrimack (6-7) came into the game ranked 14th nationally in steals thanks to an active zone that creates havoc in the half-court, and Bucknell had ball-control issues right from the start. The Warriors led 6-0 before the Bison attempted their first shot of the game, and seven turnovers in the first seven minutes led to a quick 16-2 lead for the home team.
It was a 21-4 game when Jack Forrest connected on Bucknell's first 3-pointer of the day. The teams traded points for the next nine minutes, with Elvin Edmonds' 3-pointer bringing the Bison within 30-16 with 1:07 to go. Jaylen Stinson's 4-point play with 31 seconds left made it 34-16, and after a turnover on the inbounds, Bucknell had to close the half with a stop to keep the margin at 18 at the break.
Merrimack led by as many as 26 in the second half before the Bison went on a 14-5 run, pulling within 59-42 on Forrest's set of three free throws. Bucknell got as close as 15 on an Edmonds layup with just over a minute to go.
Bucknell turned the ball over 20 times, and Merrimack finished with a 28-3 edge in points off turnovers. The offensive disruption also led to some shooting struggles, as the Bison hit 2 of 17 attempts from the 3-point arc and shot 40.7 percent overall. Merrimack shot 45.6 percent from the floor and went 9-for-30 from downtown.
The Bison did amass a 42-24 rebounding edge, led by Williamson's eight and six from Forrest and Pip Ajayi.
Devon Savage hit four of Merrimack's nine 3-pointers and scored 16 points off the bench, and Stinson added 13 points.
Now 3-9 against a tough schedule, Bucknell will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 30 at home against Saint Peter's. That will be the first of three straight home games, with Patriot League rivals Holy Cross and American on deck after New Year's.
Team Stats
Buck
Merri
FG%
.407
.456
3FG%
.118
.300
FT%
.857
.778
RB
42
24
TO
20
7
STL
4
11
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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