Two non-conference games in Massachusetts transpired on the final day of January, though one of them was a high-profile match-up of league opponents nonetheless:
MERRIMACK 100 SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT 94 (OT)
Troy McLaughlin scored 10 of his 14 points in overtime and dished out six assists, while Ryan Boulter matched a program record with nine 3-pointers (in 16 attempts) as part of a career-high 40-point explosion as Merrimack nipped Southern Connecticut at the Volpe Center to avenge a loss 20 days earlier in New Haven. The Warriors never trailed in the non-league meeting, using a 17-6 second-half run in widening a 54-51 lead to 71-57 after a Boulter triple (naturally) with 8:38 to play. It was an 80-72 advantage inside of four minutes when the Owls rattled off eight straight, equalizing on a tip-in by Joey Wallace (19 points, seven rebounds, seven assists) with 1:11 left. Anthony Barry – who became the 43rd Warrior to ascend the 1,000-point club earlier in the contest – converted a go-ahead 3-point play, but Michael Mallory eventually tied things up once more – 84-84 – driving through a double team and banking it in with 6.5 seconds remaining in regulation. A turnover on the ensuing inbounds gave Southern three chances to steal the game underneath its own basket, but each of the shots was off the mark, necessitating the extra five minutes. A pair of McLaughlin foul shots nearly a full minute into OT sparked a 7-0 spurt, and the hosts never looked back, sinking seven straight freebies over the last 41 seconds to nail it down. Boulter’s nine threes tied the Warriors record, set by Gary Duda vs. American International in another overtime game on February 8, 1992 and last reached by Matt Van Leeuwen vs. Assumption in a playoff game on March 7, 1999. Barry recorded 20 points (8-12 FG) and six rebounds, while rookie sensation Juvaris Hayes – who leads all of division 2 in assists – notched his second straight “dubious” triple-double with 12 points, 11 assists and 11 turnovers – and it was nearly a quadruple-double as the former St. Anthony’s (NJ) guard corralled eight rebounds in 41 minutes of action. Mallory dropped 28 points (11-32 FG) and dished out four assists while playing every minute for the Owls, moving into second place all-time in the 38-year history of the NE10 with 2,311 points – well within striking distance of Assumption sharpshooter Drew Adderly’s all-time record of 2,489. Toby Christensen also busted out with a career high-tying 20-point (7-11 FG), 10-rebound performance, while playing all but one minute in a losing effort. Merrimack shot the rock better overall (50%-41%), from distance (12-27 to 7-28) and at the line (22-28 to 15-21), offsetting disparities on the glass (47-45), on second chances (25-13) and in the turnover department (18-10).
ASSUMPTION 79 MERCY 62
Damien Rance totaled 18 points while Branisav Vujodinovic racked up 17 points (3-4 from deep), 14 rebounds and three blocked shots in leading Assumption over Mercy in Worcester. A Vujodinovic “And-1” triggered a key 16-5 run that extended a 46-45 lead to 62-50 with 8:05 on the clock for the Greyhounds, whose lead bounced between nine and 19 the rest of the way. Declan Soukup (15 points, 7-10 FG, eight assists) and Justin Tuckson (13 points off the bench, 6-8 FG) provided solid support for the victors, who were the vastly superior shooters (64%-34%) and claimed all eight of the game’s rejections. Will Robinson was the lone bright spot for the Mavericks, compiling 28 points (12-20 FG) and 10 rebounds. The Mavs only turned it over eight times (AC had 14) and punished their hosts on second chances, 15-2, but it wasn’t enough to prevent an 11th straight setback (five of which saw Mercy hold a halftime lead). Both teams displayed an icy touch from the foul line (AC 4-7, MC 11-20).