Mount St. Mary's Holds Off Manhattan 72-65

Mount St. Mary's secured a crucial 72-65 win over Manhattan at Knott Arena, with Luke McEldon's 14 points pacing the Mountaineers. The victory marked a strong team effort, as Mount St. Mary's built a five-point halftime lead and managed to hold off a late Manhattan surge. At the break, Mount St. Mary's led 32-27, thanks in part to McEldon's efficient shooting and the team's balanced attack.

Manhattan's Marko Ljubicic matched McEldon's output with 14 points of his own, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Mountaineers' collective effort. Arlandus Keyes and Abdou Khadre Kébé chipped in with 13 and 10 points, respectively, as Mount St. Mary's showcased its depth. The Mountaineers' ability to find scoring from multiple sources proved decisive, as they outscored Manhattan 40-38 in the second half to seal the win.

CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Mount St. Mary's emerging victorious by 5.4 points, and the Mountaineers ultimately surpassed that margin with a seven-point triumph. The predicted score of 77-72 was a bit off, but the end result was spot on. Mount St. Mary's strong performance validated the prediction, as they controlled the tempo and made key plays late.

As the game unfolded, Mount St. Mary's managed to maintain its lead despite Manhattan's best efforts to mount a comeback. The Jaspers trimmed the deficit to as few as three points midway through the second half, but the Mountaineers responded with a series of clutch baskets to restore their cushion. In the end, Mount St. Mary's emerged with a hard-fought 72-65 victory.

This result has real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes. For Mount St. Mary's, the win counts as a Quadrant 4 victory, which may not carry significant weight but still represents a valuable addition to their portfolio. With a current NET ranking of 302, the Mountaineers must continue racking up wins to bolster their postseason hopes. Manhattan, meanwhile, suffers a Quadrant 4 loss, which could hinder their already slim tournament chances. The Jaspers' NET ranking of 332 leaves them on the outside looking in, and they'll need to string together some impressive wins to change their fortunes.

Ultimately, Mount St. Mary's 72-65 win over Manhattan serves as a reflection of the Mountaineers' resilience and depth. With the victory, they improve to 10-14 on the season, while Manhattan falls to 9-15. As the season enters its final stretch, both teams will be fighting for every win to enhance their tournament prospects. For now, Mount St. Mary's can savor a satisfying victory, one that underscores their potential to make some noise in the weeks to come.