Mismatch in Maryland as Mount St. Mary's Tops Canisius

In a one-sided contest, Mount St. Mary's asserted its dominance over Canisius, ultimately securing a 68-47 victory. The margin of 21 points underscored the disparity between the two teams, with Mount St. Mary's pulling away to establish a commanding lead.

The game's trajectory was evident in the halftime score, as Mount St. Mary's led 20-24. However, the second half saw the Mountaineers' advantage grow, culminating in a 48-23 advantage to seal the win. The final score reflected the significant gap between the two teams, with Mount St. Mary's emerging victorious 68-47.

Mount St. Mary's top performer Arlandus Keyes set the tone for the night with a 29-point, 10-rebound performance, which included 7 assists and shot 50% from the field, 36% from three-point range. His efficiency on offense allowed the team to maintain a strong pace throughout the game, as they built a substantial lead in the first half.

Xavier Lipscomb provided a spark off the bench, contributing 13 points on 4-5 shooting, including 3-4 from three-point range. His ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc helped to stretch the Canisius defense and create space for his teammates to operate. Luke McEldon's 8-point, 7-rebound effort was also crucial in securing the rebounding margin for Mount St. Mary's, as the team outrebounded Canisius by 11.

Despite the loss, Kahlil Singleton's 15 points on 6-14 shooting from the field and 3-9 from beyond the arc were a bright spot for the Canisius offense. His efficiency was hindered by a high volume of missed shots, limiting the team's scoring opportunities.

Bryan Ndjonga's all-around performance, which included 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, was not enough to carry Canisius to a victory. His ability to draw fouls and convert at the free-throw line, where he shot 6-8, was a positive aspect of his game. Mike Evbagharu's 8 points on 4-7 shooting from the field were a modest contribution, but his 5 rebounds provided a spark on the glass.

The supporting casts for both teams largely adhered to their established season averages, with no notable deviations from form.

While the pre-game prediction of a 7.3-point Mount St. Mary's victory ultimately proved correct, the actual margin of 21 points suggests a significantly more one-sided contest than anticipated. The disparity between the predicted and actual scores raises questions about the accuracy of the pre-game assessment.

Mount St. Mary's dominance can be attributed to a pair of key factors. Firstly, the team's elevated effective field goal percentage in this game, which rose to 51.8% compared to its season average of 51.1%, indicates a notable improvement in shooting efficiency. This improvement was not replicated by Canisius, whose own shooting percentage dropped significantly from its season average. Secondly, Mount St. Mary's maintained a substantial rebounding advantage, securing 36.7% of available boards, a notable increase from its season average of 30.2%. This disparity in rebounding allowed Mount St. Mary's to control the tempo of the game and limit Canisius's scoring opportunities.

Mount St. Mary's maintains a slight edge in the MAAC conference standings, with this win moving them above the .500 mark and inching closer to securing a top-four seed in the conference tournament. Meanwhile, Canisius's loss drops them to 9-20 overall, making their road to a top-four seed increasingly difficult, and further complicating their path to a conference tournament title. Despite both teams' struggles, Mount St. Mary's appears poised to gain more momentum heading into the conference tournament, while Canisius's postseason hopes hang precariously in the balance.