Merrimack Warriors Hold Off Quinnipiac Bobcats 56-49 Behind Kennedy's 24 Points

The Merrimack Warriors, led by Kevair Kennedy's 24 points, secured a 56-49 victory over the Quinnipiac Bobcats at the M&T Bank Arena, a win that marked their sixth consecutive triumph. This latest victory came on the heels of a five-game stretch where Merrimack averaged 76.6 points per game, outscoring their opponents by an average of 18.6 points. In contrast, Quinnipiac, who had been averaging 73.6 points per game over their last five outings, were held to a season-low 49 points, 24 points below their recent average. The Bobcats' Grant Randall led their charge with 16 points and 6 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the stifling Merrimack defense, which limited Quinnipiac to just 21 points in the first half.

Merrimack's recent form had been impressive, with wins over Marist, Rider, Mount St. Mary's, Sacred Heart, and Saint Peter's, and they looked to continue this trend against Quinnipiac. The Warriors' Ernest Shelton chipped in with 12 points, while KC Ugwuakazi added 8 points and 6 rebounds, as Merrimack outscored Quinnipiac 35-28 in the second half to seal the win. Quinnipiac, on the other hand, had been on a roll, winning four of their last five games, including victories over Siena, Niagara, Canisius, and Fairfield, but their offense sputtered against Merrimack's defense, which held them to just 28 points in the second half. With 10 minutes left to play, Quinnipiac trailed by 10 points, 46-36, and despite a late push, they were unable to overcome the deficit.

Kennedy's performance was the difference-maker in this game, as he hit several big shots to keep Merrimack ahead. He scored 14 of his 24 points in the second half, including 8 points in the final 5 minutes of the game, to help Merrimack secure the win. Randall, on the other hand, struggled to find his rhythm, scoring just 4 points in the second half, and Quinnipiac's Amarri Monroe, who had 15 rebounds, was held to just 10 points on 4-12 shooting. Merrimack's defense was able to limit Quinnipiac's scoring opportunities, holding them to just 35% shooting from the field, including 2-14 from three-point range.

The CHD Scout had predicted a narrow Merrimack victory, by just 0.1 points, and while the actual margin was 7 points, the prediction was still correct.

The reason for the accuracy of the prediction lies in the fact that Merrimack's defense has been stellar all season, and they were able to shut down Quinnipiac's offense, which had been averaging 73.6 points per game over their last five outings. Merrimack's ability to limit Quinnipiac's scoring opportunities and hold them to a season-low 49 points was the key to their victory. The model correctly identified Merrimack's defensive prowess as the deciding factor in this game. With 5 minutes left to play, Merrimack led by 12 points, 51-39, and while Quinnipiac made a late push, they were unable to overcome the deficit.

Merrimack's win, combined with their recent form, has real consequences for their tournament picture.

The Warriors' victory over Quinnipiac, a Quad 4 game, improves their NET ranking to 188, and with a 18-9 record, they are now firmly in the tournament conversation. This win, combined with their recent 5-game winning streak, has catapulted Merrimack into the discussion for a potential at-large bid. On the other hand, Quinnipiac's loss, a Quad 3 game, drops their NET ranking to 197, and with an 18-10 record, they are now on the bubble. The Bobcats must regroup and refocus if they hope to make a push for the tournament. With just a few games left to play, every win is crucial, and Merrimack's victory over Quinnipiac has given them a significant boost in their quest for a tournament berth.

The game was a defensive clinic, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm on offense. Merrimack's defense was the key to their victory, as they held Quinnipiac to just 35% shooting from the field, including 2-14 from three-point range. The Warriors' offense, on the other hand, was led by Kennedy's 24 points, and they were able to score just enough to secure the win. With 2 minutes left to play, Merrimack led by 9 points, 54-45, and while Quinnipiac made a late push, they were unable to overcome the deficit. In the end, Merrimack's defense and Kennedy's big shots were too much for Quinnipiac to handle, and the Warriors secured a 56-49 victory.

This win is a significant one for Merrimack, as it marks their sixth consecutive victory and improves their record to 18-9. The Warriors are now firmly in the tournament conversation, and with a few games left to play, they want to continue their winning streak and secure a berth in the tournament. Quinnipiac, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus if they hope to make a push for the tournament. The Bobcats' loss drops their record to 18-10, and with a NET ranking of 197, they are now on the bubble. Every win is crucial at this point in the season, and Merrimack's victory over Quinnipiac has given them a significant boost in their quest for a tournament berth. With just a few games left to play, the Warriors want to continue their winning streak and secure a spot in the tournament.

In their last 5 games, Merrimack has outscored their opponents by an average of 18.6 points, and their defense has been the key to their success. The Warriors have held their opponents to just 58 points per game over this stretch, and their offense has been able to take advantage of the opportunities created by their defense. Kennedy has been the leader of the team, averaging 20 points per game over the last 5 games, and his performance against Quinnipiac was no exception. He hit several big shots to keep Merrimack ahead, and his 24 points were the difference-maker in the game. With their sixth consecutive win, Merrimack is now 18-9 on the season, and they want to continue their winning streak in their next game.

Merrimack's victory over Quinnipiac is a reflection of their strength and resilience as a team. The Warriors have been on a roll lately, winning 6 games in a row, and their defense has been the key to their success. They have held their opponents to just 58 points per game over their last 5 games, and their offense has been able to take advantage of the opportunities created by their defense. Kennedy has been the leader of the team, averaging 20 points per game over the last 5 games, and his performance against Quinnipiac was no exception. He hit several big shots to keep Merrimack ahead, and his 24 points were the difference-maker in the game. With their sixth consecutive win, Merrimack is now 18-9 on the season, and they want to continue their winning streak in their next game.

The Warriors' win over Quinnipiac has real consequences for their tournament picture. With a NET ranking of 188, Merrimack is now firmly in the tournament conversation, and their victory over Quinnipiac has given them a significant boost in their quest for a tournament berth. The Warriors' defense has been the key to their success, and they want to continue their winning streak in their next game. Quinnipiac, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus if they hope to make a push for the tournament. The Bobcats' loss drops their record to 18-10, and with a NET ranking of 197, they are now on the bubble. Every win is crucial at this point in the season, and Merrimack's victory over Quinnipiac has given them a significant boost in their quest for a tournament berth.

HEADLINE: Merrimack Warriors Hold Off Quinnipiac Bobcats 56-49 Behind Kennedy's 24 Points SUBHEADLINE: Merrimack's sixth consecutive win improves their NET ranking to 188, putting them firmly in the tournament conversation with just a few games left to play, including 3 Quad 2 games and 2 Quad 3 games, and a 18-9 record.