NORTH ANDOVER — Merrimack had an opportunity to chip away at its seven-point deficit to Bentley midway through the second half when Darren Duncan forced a steal and passed to Darin Mency in the corner.
But Mency's 3-point attempt ended up being an airball, as the Warriors fell 72-58.
That was the start of a tough stretch. Aaron Strothers missed a layup, Duncan and Roland Davis missed 3-pointers and Craig Woehnker missed jumpers near the basket all during a 3:17 second-half scoreless stretch when the Warriors fell behind by nine points.
"We took a couple bad shots and that led to more bad shots but it just boiled down to that we didn't play the way we are supposed to be playing," Duncan said.
Merrimack shot a dismal 31.3 percent from the field in the second half, including 1 for 11 from 3-point range.
"It just looked today like everyone was fatigued and not really the shooting but our defense — we just gave up too many easy looks to them," Mency said. "They scored way too much."
Bentley scored 14 points off turnovers, connect for 12-of-22 3-pointers (54.5 percent) and shot 48.4 percent from the field.
Merrimack has lost 11straight games to Bentley dating back to Dec. 5, 2005.
In their previous matchup, Bentley's Jason Westrol hit a 3-pointer to beat the Warriors in the closing seconds of a double-overtime thriller in the Division 2 NCAA regional semifinals last year.
Westrol again had his 3-point stroke working yesterday in the battle of two of the top Northeast-10 Conference teams this season. He scored 16 points.
"We knew they were going to come out hungry because they haven't beaten us in a couple years," Westrol said. "They're a great team but so are we. We just wanted to match their intensity. ...
"We just wanted to make a statement early in the season. Merrimack was picked No. 1 preseason and we were coming in No. 2. We just wanted to make a statement."
Merrimack trailed 39-37 at halftime. It tied Bentley 41-41 with 17:49 left but then fell apart.
"Coach wasn't yelling," Duncan said. "It was more of us (the players) who held it and coach was just there because he's part of our team. We were just trying to get things right because obviously we didn't play that well. We were trying to fix things for next game. We want to be tighter as a unit."
Merrimack got to the free-throw line only twice.
One bright spot for Merrimack was the strong play of Woehnker, who scored 14 points, and converted 4-of-7 3-pointers. He averaged six points off the bench last year as a junior.
"I'm comfortable being the sixth man and I think coach is comfortable with me being there," he said. "I just do what I've got to do. As a team I don't think we are clicking as well as we'd like to."
Merrimack women fall
The Merrimack women lost to Bentley 71-62 to fall to 0-2 this season.
Bentley led 40-27 at the half. Merrimack narrowed its deficit to three points in the second half but that was as close as it would get.
Junior Tiffany Colon, of Lawrence, scored 10 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. She was 5 for 10 from the field.
Merrimack shot 32.6 percent from the field and 21.4 percent from 3-point land.
Casey Miller and Sarah Benischek each netted 15 points.
SportsTalk Live: Mass Exodus Under Edsall-2/13
Jill Sorenson reports on the rumors swirling around Mike Knuble-2/13
Jill Sorenson reports on the Capitals' loss to the Sharks-2/13
Kelli Johnson 1-on-1 with John Thompson III -2/13
Alexander Semin finds back of net versus Rangers-2/12
The Sixers are not taking anyone lightly
Spring training is right around the corner
Moving day: Phils' gear en route to Clearwater
Will the Flyers make a move at the trade deadline?
Stoglin's frustrations boil over following Duke loss-2/12
Timonen "disappointed" in teammates' effort
Morganti: 'Rangers' power play demolished the Flyers'
Timonen: 'I think we got half the guys going and half the guys not'
More shootout woes in store for the Flyers when they face the Red Wings?
The Rangers have the Flyers' number
St. Joseph's vs. Massachusetts Highlights - 2/11
Penn vs. Dartmouth Highlights - 2/11
Drexel vs. Hofstra Highlights - 2/11
La Salle vs. St. Louis Highlights - 2/11
John Wall talks about the loss to the Heat-2/10
Ortiz, Red Sox meet in the middle
Merloni: Red Sox need another arm
Julien: In a 'must good-game' situation
Julien: 'did it the hard way'
McAdam's Spring Training primer
Doc: Team's effort is 'un-Celtic'
Pierce stresses mental toughness
Globe 10.0 Who was the best free agent in Boston?
Maria Menounos dons a Giants-colored bikini after losing Super Bowl bet-2/7
Thomas' moratorium: 'I'm out, peace'
Gasol: 'Not pleasant' being part of trade rumor
Blakely: Gasol-for-Rondo trade unlikely
Brady-ing is Latest Internet Meme
Globe 10.0: Is Paul Pierce the Celtics greatest scorer?
Ranking Pierce among Celtics greats
Garnett's tale of first meeting Paul Pierce
Pierce's loyalty touted after big night
Hurt Locker: Patriots react to Super Bowl loss
Brown: 'Eli Manning is better than Tom Brady'
Local fans crushed by Patriots loss in Super Bowl XLVI
