MERRIMACK EDGED BY AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL, 74-65

BOX SCORE
 
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Feb. 3, 2007) – The Merrimack College men’s basketball team was edged by American International, 74-65, in Northeast-10 Conference action Saturday afternoon at the Volpe Center in North Andover.  With the loss, the Warriors are 6-17 overall and 5-13 in the Northeast-10.  The Yellow Jackets improved to 12-10 overall (10-7 NE-10).

 

Both teams battled back and forth over the first 10 minutes of the game, with three ties and four lead changes.  American International would enjoy a three-point lead twice and, with the game tied at 20 at the 7:51 mark, would go on a 9-2 run to push its lead to 29-22.  Merrimack would bounce back during the last three minutes of the first half to cut the lead back to two behind four points from Kenny Jones (Norwich, Conn.) and a three-pointer from Carlos Brown (Lawrence, Mass.).

 

In the second half, Merrimack fought back from a five-point deficit to tie the game at the 16:12 mark (42-42) behind four points from Chiedozie Offiah (London, England).  For the next 10 minutes, the hosts enjoyed a lead and pushed it to as many as seven (59-52 with 9:50 left).  During that time span, Gerry Corcoran (Norwell, Mass.) nailed a pair of three-pointers.

 

Merrimack was outscored 13-3 during the last 5:39 minutes of the game.  AIC received a balance attack to take the lead and keep it for good down the stretch.  Aikeem Vanderhorst finished with a double-double, his fifth of the season, of 23 points and 13 rebounds to pace the victory.  Lucius Millinder also added 17 points for AIC.  The Yellow Jackets owned a commanding 45-31 rebounding advantage.


For Merrimack, Corcoran led all scorers with 13 points while Jones finished with 12 and Darren Duncan (Briarwood, N.Y.) had 10.

AIC returns to action a week from Saturday when it hosts Bryant in a 3:30 game.