Merrimack Men’s Basketball Remains atop MAAC with 83–71 Win over Quinnipiac

Jack Lawhorne – Student Reporter

North Andover, MA – A late first-half three-point barrage propelled the Merrimack men’s basketball team (11–8, 7–1 MAAC) to an 83–71 victory over the Quinnipiac Bobcats (12–7, 5–3 MAAC) Saturday afternoon at Lawler Arena.

Tye Dorset, Ernest Shelton, Kevair Kennedy, and Todd Brogna each knocked down three-pointers before Kennedy capped a decisive 14–0 Warriors run with a dazzling layup. The surge, which spanned from the 7:20 to the 2:41 mark of the first half, blew the game open and set the tone for the afternoon.

MC carried a commanding 50–31 lead into the half before finishing the job in the second period of play.

Kennedy (23 pts), Shelton (17 pts), and Dorset (16 pts) led the way for the Warriors. Todd Brogna (10 pts) and KC Ugwuakazi (10 pts) also scored in double figures.

Dorset and Shelton knocked down four triples apiece as Merrimack hit 13 shots from beyond the arc. The Warriors improve to 9–1 when they make nine or more three-pointers, and 10–4 when they make six or more compared to their 1–4 mark when they fail to make six.

This victory against a very good Quinnipiac team led by reigning MAAC Player of the Year Amarri Monroe (23 pts) keeps the Warriors atop the conference tied with Saint Peter’s, who last weekend handed Merrimack their only loss in the conference so far this year.

The Warriors return to action Monday afternoon in New York when they face the MAAC’s third-place Marist Red Foxes (12–5, 6–2 MAAC) at 2 p.m. ET.