Weekend Preview: Merrimack opens MAAC play at home against Rider and Fairfield

The Merrimack men’s basketball team will open its MAAC schedule on Thursday night at Lawler Arena, where the Warriors are planning a handful of special promotions, including a T-shirt giveaway designed to match their new powder-blue third jerseys.

Merrimack returns home after a three-game swing in Philadelphia at The Cathedral Classic. The Warriors stumbled out of the gate with two losses but salvaged the trip with a win over La Salle on Sunday.

The early story for Merrimack has been the emergence of several fresh faces.

Ernest Shelton, a Div. 2 transfer, leads the team with 16.6 points per game and is knocking down 38 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, freshman guard Kevair Kennedy looks every bit like the next standout guard for the Warriors in a lineage that includes the likes of Budd Clark and Juvaris Hayes — the latter now serving as an assistant coach. Kennedy ranks second on the team with 13.8 points per game and sits atop the Warriors’ leaderboard with 16 steals.

Shelton and Kennedy, by the way, played together in high school at Father Judge High in Philadelphia.

Merrimack enters the matchup at 3-5 overall but boasts a 1-0 mark at home, highlighted by a 72-65 victory over Maine two weeks ago.

The program has additional promotions scheduled throughout the night.

Fans can purchase tickets to both games at the Lawler Arena box office or online at merrimackathletics.com.

Game Details vs. Rider

When: Thursday, Dec. 4
Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: North Andover, Mass.
Venue: Lawler Arena (2,549)
TV/Stream: ESPN+

Game Details vs. Fairfield

When: Sunday, Dec. 7
Tip-off: 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: North Andover, Mass.
Venue: Lawler Arena (2,549)
TV/Stream: ESPN+