Merrimack College will take on Mount St. Mary’s this Friday at Lawler Arena in North Andover, Massachusetts, with a scheduled tip-off at 3 p.m. This matchup will be a rematch of last season’s MAAC semifinal, and it marks the first encounter between the two teams since a tense contest in March, where the Mountaineers edged the Warriors 57-55, ending Merrimack’s season.
Entering this game, Merrimack boasts impressive momentum, having won five of their last six games, and remains undefeated in MAAC play with a record of 3-0. In contrast, Mount St. Mary’s has struggled with a conference record of 1-2 but appears to be finding its rhythm, having won three of its last four games after a challenging start to the season that included tough matchups against teams such as West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Ohio State.
The game is sure to be an exciting clash as both teams seek to establish their footing in the MAAC. The Warriors have historically struggled against the Mountaineers, holding a 1-7 all-time record, with their only victory in this series occurring back on January 9, 2020.
Key players for Mount St. Mary’s include junior forward Luke McEldon, who leads the team in both scoring with 11.3 points per game and rebounding with 5.8 boards per game. Senior guard Xavier Lipscomb is also a notable contributor, leading the team in assists at 4.3 per game.
According to ESPN Analytics, Merrimack has a favorable 72.4 percent chance of winning this matchup, while KenPom offers a slightly more conservative estimate, predicting a 65 percent chance for Merrimack and projecting a final score of 71-67 in favor of the Warriors. With both teams showing promise and striving for a critical victory, the matchup promises to be a thrilling afternoon of basketball.