Preview: Saint Peter’s Peacocks at Mount Saint Mary’s Mountaineers

EMMITSBURG, Md. (Interstat) — A pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball teams on divergent tracks will meet Friday when the Saint Peter’s Peacocks visit the Mount Saint Mary’s Mountaineers at Knott Arena.

The Peacocks (7-5) enter with momentum, having won three straight games, including their conference opener last Friday, a 69-59 victory over Marist. The Mountaineers (5-11), meanwhile, look to halt a two-game skid and find consistency after dropping their first two MAAC contests.

Saint Peter’s has been fueled by guard Bryce Eaton, who is averaging 14.8 points and 4.8 assists per game. He is coming off an 11-point, six-assist performance against Marist and scored 23 in a narrow road loss to Georgetown last month. His playmaking will be central against Mount St. Mary’s pressure.

The Mountaineers will counter with forward Luke McEldon, their most reliable scorer in recent play. McEldon is averaging 12.3 points per game and posted 14 points and five rebounds in Sunday’s 80-69 loss at Quinnipiac. He had a season-high 18 points in a win over Iona on Dec. 29.

Team trends heavily favor the visitors. Saint Peter’s has won five of its last six, with its only loss in that span coming in overtime at Georgetown. The Peacocks’ defense has been stifling, holding four of their last six opponents under 60 points.

Mount St. Mary’s has struggled against a tougher schedule, including a 113-60 loss at Ohio State, but has shown flashes at home, defeating Iona and Loyola Maryland at Knott Arena in December. Guard Arlandus Keyes, who scored 17 points against Quinnipiac, provides a secondary scoring option alongside McEldon.

This begins a key home stretch for the Mountaineers, who play four of their next five in Emmitsburg. The Peacocks continue a road-heavy early conference slate.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Friday. The teams will meet again in Jersey City, New Jersey, on Jan. 30.