FAIRFIELD, Conn. — In a thrilling encounter, Adam Clark impressed by scoring 18 of his 23 points during the first half, leading Merrimack to narrowly defeat Sacred Heart with a final score of 66-65 on Friday.

Clark executed two crucial free throws with just 3:21 remaining in the game, which extended Merrimack’s lead to 66-57.

In addition to his scoring, Clark contributed significantly with five rebounds and five assists for the Warriors, who now hold a record of 7-8 and are undefeated in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a 4-0 mark. Bryan Etumnu also shone for Merrimack, scoring 12 points on a perfect shooting night, going 5 of 5 from the field.

Sacred Heart, with a record of 6-9 and 2-2 in the conference, was spearheaded by Anquan Hill, who tallied 17 points along with eight rebounds. Tanner Thomas added to the team’s efforts with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Bryce Johnson contributed 10 points, eight rebounds, and two steals.

Both teams are set to return to action on Sunday, with Merrimack hosting Manhattan and Sacred Heart heading out to face Mount St. Mary’s.