Merrimack defeats Siena 59-63
Merrimack Edges Siena in Thrilling Conference Matchup
63 - 59: A Back-and-Forth Affair at MVP Arena
In a game that saw both teams come out on top, but ultimately fall short of their goals, the visiting Merrimack Warriors edged the host Siena Saints by four points, 63-59. The nail-biting conference matchup was filled with twists and turns, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.
The first half set the tone for a thrilling contest, as Merrimack took an early lead, only to see Siena tie it up before halftime. At that point, the away team led 22-38. The Saints' Francis Folefac was the standout performer in the opening period, scoring 13 points on 5 of 10 shooting.
A Turnaround for Merrimack
In the second half, Merrimack took control, with Ernest Shelton leading the charge. He scored 8 points in the final frame, including four from behind the arc. The Warriors' bench also contributed significantly, as KC Ugwuakazi chipped in 4 points and 2 rebounds.
As the clock ticked down, Siena made a late surge to narrow the gap to just 4 points with 1:30 remaining. However, Merrimack's Kevair Kennedy responded by scoring on two consecutive possessions, sealing the win for his team.
Key Performers
* Francis Folefac (Siena) - 22 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists
* Ernest Shelton (Merrimack) - 17 points, 4-10 from three-point range
* KC Ugwuakazi (Merrimack) - 8 rebounds, 12 points
Team Statistics
Siena's home court advantage was evident in their strong field goal percentage of 41.0% compared to Merrimack's 43.0%. However, the Warriors made up for it by shooting 45.0% from three-point range and 77.0% from free throws.
Merrimack outrebounded Siena 25-39 but committed just seven turnovers to the Saints' ten. The Warriors also had a slight edge in points off turnovers, with both teams scoring six points in this area.
This was a hard-fought win for Merrimack and comes at a crucial time in their conference schedule. The victory puts them one step ahead of Siena and will give them renewed confidence as they head into the next week's matchup.