NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Returning to the floor for the first time in 30 days, the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team dropped a road contest 62-51 to Merrimack at Hammel Court on Thursday night.
The Knights (2-7, 1-2 NEC) led by three at the half but were held to just 29 percent from the field in the second stanza as the Warriors (2-3, 2-3 NEC) overtook the contest.
In the loss, freshman forward
John Square Jr. matched his career high with 11 points and added six rebounds, while junior guard
Brandon Powell scored a team-high 12 points with seven rebounds.
Mykel Derring paced the Warriors with 19 points and made 5-of-9 from three-point range.
Coach Herenda's Postgame (Video)
How it Happened
- After the Knights fell behind by seven in the early going, they roared back and took the lead with a 15-4 run, highlighted by a coast-to-coast drive and layup by Powell, who converted the three-point play at the line.
- Despite shooting just 34.4 percent overall and 2-of-10 from behind the arc, the Knights maintained their lead for the duration of the first half and carried a 28-25 edge into the break.
- Square and Callum Baker paced the Burgundy and Blue with seven points apiece, while Powell contributed five points and four rebounds over the first 20 minutes of action.
- The Knights' defense helped make up for their cold-shooting first half by forcing nine turnovers and limiting the Warriors to just 2-of-14 from three-point range in the stanza.
- The Warriors captured their first lead since the early going when Derring knocked down a three-pointer just over three minutes into the second half. Derring connected again from distance on the next possession and gave the Warriors a 36-30 edge prior to the first media timeout.
- With the Knights' offense continuing to sputter, the Warriors were able to extend their lead to as many as 15, 56-41 with 4:26 to play.
Inside the Box Score
- The Warriors shot 50 percent from the field in the second half, while holding the Knights to eight made baskets.
- The Knights forced 13 turnovers in the loss, led by freshman guard Joe Munden Jr.'s three steals.
- Powell's 15 points are a season-high for the junior, who missed the first four games of the season.
- Baker finished with seven points and a career-high six rebounds in the loss.
- Sophomore forward Daniel Rodriguez made his first career start for the Knights and logged 19 minutes
Up Next
The Knights and Warriors square off again tomorrow with tip-off set for 4:00 p.m.
