Kennedy Scores Career-High 32 to Edge Warriors over Siena on ESPNU, Clinch MAAC Share

Jack Lawhorne — Student Reporter — Photo: Jim Stankiewicz

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — MAAC Player of the Year frontrunner Kevair Kennedy scored a career-high 32 points Friday night to lead the Merrimack men’s basketball team to a 79–72 overtime win over Siena.

The game was nationally broadcasted on ESPNU and played in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,000 at Lawler Arena, and Kennedy stole the spotlight.

With the win, the Warriors improved to 15–2 in the MAAC and 17–3 over their last 20 games, and clinched at least a share of the MAAC title. Just one more Merrimack win, or one more Saint Peter’s loss would secure sole possession of the conference title for the Warriors.

Kennedy, along with teammates Ernest Shelton and Tye Dorset, played all 40 minutes of regulation, plus the extra five in overtime.

“I wanted to win that game bad,” said Kennedy following the win. “Coach Gallo said at halftime, it’s between me and [Gavin] Doty, and I was like, ‘he ain’t gonna outwork me,’ so I had to prove my point.”

Merrimack’s star freshman did most of his damage at the free throw line, where he went a perfect 16-of-16.

“My work,” Kennedy, attributed his monster game to. “My work just paying off.”

Kennedy attracted a ton of attention all night. On the game-sealing three from Todd Brogna in the final minute of overtime, you can see him being guarded by all five Siena defenders in the paint. That’s how much of a threat he is.

As for the historic environment, “It was great,” said Ernest Shelton. “This was by far the best atmosphere I’ve been in playing college basketball, or even high school basketball.”

“It made a difference down the stretch for sure,” said Tye Dorset. “So I just want to say thank you to all the fans for coming.”

The Warriors will look to lock up the top seed in the MAAC as well as avenge a one-point, buzzer-beater loss to Iona from exactly one month ago when the Gaels come to town Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET. It also marks Senior Day and the Warriors’ final home game of the regular season.