NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Saint Peter's men's basketball program (11-6, 8-1 MAAC) heads up to Lawler Arena for the first time to play Merrimack (12-8, 8-1 MAAC) on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET. The game features the top two teams in the MAAC and three top-10 scorers in the conference.
The Peacocks look to keep things going and continue their four-game winning streak, but they face a tough test on the road to do so. In Saint Peter's first meeting with the Warriors earlier this season,
Brent Bland and
Zaakir Williamson had stellar performances to help elevate the team to victory. Since that game, Bland has been averaging 12 points and six rebounds, and Williamson has been putting up 13 points and five boards per game.
Saint Peter's still leads the MAAC in defense, allowing just 61.0 points per game through nine conference games. In their last win over Iona, the Peacocks held the Gaels to 63 points while racking up six steals and five blocks in the process.
ABOUT THE MERRIMACK WARRIORS
The Warriors are tied with the Peacocks for first place in the MAAC, but Saint Peter's won the first matchup between the two teams and handed Merrimack its only loss in conference play. Neither team has lost a game since, as they share the same 8-1 conference record now. The Warriors have a matchup against Iona on Thursday night at 7 p.m. before playing the Peacocks on Saturday.
Merrimack has two of the top-four scorers in the conference in freshman Kevair Kennedy and junior Ernest Shelton. Kennedy ranks second with 16.7 points per game while Shelton ranks fourth with 15.9. They both improved their scoring average by half a point since the first time they met with Saint Peter's.
Merrimack is coached by Joe Gallo, who is in his 10th season as head coach of the Warriors.
NOTES
The Peacocks are 3-1 all-time vs. Merrimack, with all four meetings taking place in Jersey City…this will be Saint Peter's first time playing in North Andover…neither team has lost a game since their last matchup on Jan. 11…the Peacocks are 2-5 on the road this season, but have won two of their last three away games.
