Tough First Half Too Much For Men's Basketball To Overcome In 85-71 Home Loss To Merrimack

Bridgeport, Conn.-A slow start in the first half proved to be too much to overcome for the University of Bridgeport men's basketball team, as the host Purple Knights dropped an 85-71 non-conference decision to the visiting Merrimack College Warriors on Sunday afternoon.  UB is now 1-3 overall, and the Warriors up their season record to 4-3.

In the opening 20 minutes of action, the Purple Knights committed 16 turnovers and had a field goal percentage of only 27.3 percent, hitting 9-of-33 shots.  Those two factors contributed to a 15-point halftime deficit for the hosts, as Bridgeport trailed 41-26, and could not comeback in the second half.

Senior Jesse Jones (Irvington, N.J.) led Bridgeport and all players in the game with 25 points, as he hit 7-of-14 three-point shots.  Jones also tied for the team lead on the glass grabbing six rebounds along with classmate Eddie Asamoah (Calgary, Alberta, Canada).

Jones was joined in double-digit scoring by junior Montana Mayfield (Philadelphia, Pa.) with 13 points, and senior Devon Elliott (Brooklyn, N.Y.) with 11 points.

Troy Hammel led Merrimack with 23 points in the win.

The UB men's basketball team will look to get back in the win column on Saturday, December 5, when the Purple Knights host American International College.  Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. in Hubbell Gym.