Kevair Kennedys A 22-point performance was the catalyst Thursday night, leading Merrimack to an authoritative 81-56 win over Marist.
The Warriors absorbed an early surge before flipping the script with a decisive 25-5 run to end the first half. By the time the horn sounded, Merrimack had turned a shaky start into a five-point cushion.
“We took that first hit,” is the Merrimack men’s basketball coach Joe Gallo said. “We kept defending. The ball didn’t go in, even though I thought we got great shots. And the way we closed that half to go up five (points) was huge. We just keep the train rolling from there.”
From that moment on the train indeed rolled downhill.
Kennedy added seven assists and four steals, controlled the pace and caused chaos on both ends for the Warriors (17-9, 13-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference).
Tye Dorset provided steady support, finishing with 15 points while shooting 5-for-8 from the field (2-for-5 from 3-point range) and 3-for-7 from the free-throw line. Andres Marrero Chipped in 13 points, connecting with 5-of-8 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
“I thought we took it upon ourselves to challenge each other to play harder after those first 10 minutes,” Dorset said. “I think we responded.”
With the win, Merrimack strengthened its grip on the MAAC standings, now 1.5 games ahead of Saint Peter’s for the top spot. The Warriors will look to keep the pressure on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Quinnipiac.
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