NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Despite a career-high 36 points by junior Rodney Sanders (Linden, N.J.), Southern New Hampshire University could not overcome a hot start by Merrimack College, falling 95-84 in Northeast-10 men's basketball Saturday afternoon at Hammel Court.  The Warriors upped their record to 6-6 and 1-6 in the NE-10, while the Penmen are now 7-4 and 6-2 in conference play.

Troy Hammel led Merrimack with 23 points, going 12-12 at the free throw line, to lead four Warriors in double figures.  Gelvis Solano registered 22 points and eight rebounds, while James Kennedy and Kyle Howes added 16 and 12 points, respectively.

Sanders shattered his previous career high of 28 points set earlier this season against Assumption College, going 13-24 from the floor, including 4-10 behind the arc.  His 36 points are the most in a game by an SNHU player since All-American Sotirios Karapostolou poured in 36 against Saint Michael's College on December 10, 2002.  Sanders also grabbed five rebounds.

Aleksandar Dobrovic (Podgorica, Montenegro) finished with 12 points for the Penmen, while B.J. Cardarelli (Manchester, Conn.) added 11.

Southern New Hampshire led just once, at 2-0, as Merrimack opened up a 16-6 lead five minutes into the game.  The Warriors led 30-18 midway through the frame and opened up a 56-34 halftime lead at halftime as they shot 64% from the floor over the opening 20 minutes, including a 6-12 effort behind the arc.

Merrimack led by as many as 24 in the opening moments of the second half and 76-54 midway through the frame.  The Penmen were able to whittle away the lead, pulling within 10, 86-76, with 2:15 to play, but could get no closer.

Merrimack shot 54.4% for the game and took 14 more trips to the free throw line, going 27-35 while the Penmen were 17-21 at the charity stripe.  SNHU shot 45.9% for the game and held a 34-31 rebounding advantage, but was undone by 18 turnovers, 15 coming in the first half.

SNHU returns to action Wednesday when it hosts nationally-ranked Southern Connecticut State University in a 7:30 contest at the SNHU Fieldhouse.  That game can be seen on NESNplus and NESN National and heard in the Manchester area on WGIR 610 AM.

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