Max Zegarowski led Stonehill in every statistical category, nearly recording a double-double with 9 points and 9 rebounds. (PHOTO BY Craig Meyers)

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. (January 21, 2024) – Stonehill men's basketball fell on the road at Hammel Court in a Northeast Conference matchup against Merrimack College on Sunday afternoon, 63-47.

LEADERS

• Graduate student Max Zegarowski (South Hamilton, Mass.) led Stonehill in every statistical category, tallying nine points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block while playing all 40 minutes.
• Merrimack sophomore Jordan Derkack, a three-time NEC Player of the Week, scored 12 points, dished out 11 assists, and grabbed nine rebounds to nearly record a triple-double.
• Devon Savage led all scorers Sunday afternoon, scoring 14 points while hitting four three-pointers for the Warriors.

FIRST HALF

• Merrimack began the game by hitting four three-pointers and six of their first nine shots to jump out to a 16-4 lead.
• The Skyhawks responded with a run of their own, rattling off a 17-0 run to take a 21-16 lead with nine minutes left to play in the half.
• During the run, the Skyhawks shot 7-10 from the floor and 3-4 from deep while the Warriors missed 11 straight field goal attempts including nine three-pointers.
• Stonehill held onto its five-point lead at 26-21 but Merrimack closed out the first half on a 7-2 run to send the teams into the halftime locker room tied, 28-28.

SECOND HALF

• Freshman Todd Brogna (Southborough, Mass.) scored the first five points of the second half with an opening possession layup followed by a three to put the Skyhawks back in front, 33-28.
• The Warriors would outscore Stonehill 17-3 over the next five minutes, taking a 45-36 lead as six different players scored during the run for Merrimack.
• The Skyhawks would pull within six points with nine minutes left in the game, 51-45, after a deep three-pointer from sophomore Tony Felder (Brockton, Mass.).
• That would be the final field goal of the game for Stonehill as they ended the game with seven turnovers and six missed shots while Merrimack outscored the Skyhawks 12-2 to win the game 63-47.

NOTEWORTHY

• Stonehill is now 74-48 all-time against Merrimack having lost three straight matchups with the Warriors.
• Stonehill used its 12th different starting lineup this afternoon after going three straight games with the same five.  
• Stonehill's 12 different starting lineups are tied for the third most in the country at the Division I level, trailing only Furman (14) and Eastern Michigan (14).
• Zegarowski led the team in assists for the first time this season and set a new career-high with five helpers. His nine rebounds match a season-high that he recorded on the season opener against George Washington.
• Felder also matched his career-high by grabbing eight rebounds, a mark he set during his freshman year at VMI.

UP NEXT

• Stonehill continues Northeast Conference play on Thursday, Jan. 25 at the Steinberg Wellness Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. when the Skyhawks take on Long Island University at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the 2023-24 men's and women's basketball season are on sale now and can be purchased at stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets.

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