MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior John Nielsen (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) scored a team-high 15 points and sophomore Mike McCahey (Clarkstown, N.Y.) notched his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Saint Anselm College men's basketball team past Merrimack College on Tuesday night, 79-72, at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.
The Hawks win their third straight to head into the Thanksgiving break at 4-2, including 3-1 in Northeast-10 play, while the Warriors drop to 4-2, 2-2 NE-10.
Nielsen shot 5 of 11 from the floor, including 4 of 8 from long distance, and 1 of 2 at the line. McCahey was 4-for-9, including 1-for-4 from deep, and 3-for-5 at the stripe, while matching his personal best in rebounds. Senior Dino Mallios (Winthrop, Mass.) tallied 12 points (3-7 FG; 6-6 FT) five assists, six rebounds and a pair of steals. Junior Chris Santo (Cherry Hill, N.J.) added 11 points (4-4 FG; 1-1 3-FG; 2-2 FT) and eight boards, while senior Dominic Borelli (Westbrook, Maine) chipped in 10 points (3-3 FG; 4-4 FT) and five rebounds off the bench.
Gelvis Solano poured in a game-high 19 points for Merrimack.
Coming into the game ranked 16th in the nation with 96.2 points per game, the Hawks did it with defense in this one as they held Merrimack to 41.1 percent (30-73) shooting, including just 25 percent (5-20) from 3-point land, and only sent them to the line 12 times. The Hawks also largely held Selano in check, He entered the night ninth in the country in scoring with 26.2 ppg and shot 8 of 18 from the floor, including 1 of 4 from distance.
Merrimack opened the contest with a 12-8 lead 4:19 in before a Nielsen 3-pointer set off a 9-0 stretch that put Saint Anselm on top by five with 11:59 remaining in the opening half. After a Solano trey pulled the Warriors within a pair 38 seconds later, a 6-0 spurt from the Hawks stretched their lead to 27-17 with 8:08 to play.
The lead was eight following a 3-pointer from junior Mark Schulze (Townsend, Mass.), but a 9-2 run – with six points from Kevin Regan, who finished with 18 – gave Merrimack the lead back at 37-36 with 43 seconds on the clock. The Warriors would head into the break with a 39-38 edge. Schulze led the Hawks with nine points at halftime.
After the teams traded baskets to open the second half, Solano put Merrimack up three before an 8-0 run from the Hawks put them back on top at 48-43 just 3:11 in. The Warriors responded with six straight points, however, and reclaimed the lead, 49-48, with 13:31 to play. The teams then played hot potato with the lead three times before a McCahey trey sparked a quick 5-0 spurt that stretched it to 59-53 midway through the stanza.
Merrimack whittled the lead to four under three minutes later when Nielsen netted six points during a 9-0 run that gave Saint Anselm its largest lead of the night at 70-57 with 5:32 remaining. The Hawks looked like they were going to break it open, but a 3-pointer from JT Strickland and another Regan layup quickly cut the Merrimack deficit to six.
The visitors would get as close as four (72-68) on a Solano bucket with 1:35 left, but a Santo tip-in and a pair of McCahey free throws pushed the lead back to eight with 19 seconds on the clock.
Schulze finished with nine points (3-7 FG; 1-3 3-FG; 2-2 FT) and took a pair of big charges on the defensive end. Junior Roy Mabrey (Belmar, N.J.) posted six points (2-10 FG; 1-4 3-FG; 1-2 FT) four assists, two rebounds and a pair of steals.
Saint Anselm shot 48.1 percent (26-54), including 34.8 percent (8-23) from deep. It also held a narrow edge on the glass (40-38), while Merrimack won the paint (36-26). The Warriors also owned a 17-9 gap in points off turnovers as they only gave it away 12 times, while forcing 17 Saint Anselm mistakes.
The Hawks return to action Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. when they play host to Saint Michael's College at Stoutenburgh. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter @STAHawks.
