Preview: Saint Peter’s Peacocks at Merrimack Warriors

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — A key Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rematch unfolds Saturday when the Merrimack Warriors host the Saint Peter’s Peacocks at Volpe Athletic Center.

The Warriors (12-8) seek to avenge a 76-63 road loss to the Peacocks (11-6) from just two weeks ago on Jan. 11 and protect their home court. Both teams enter on winning streaks, with Saint Peter’s having won four straight and Merrimack three consecutive.

Saint Peter’s is powered by forward Brent Bland, who dominated the first matchup with 17 points and eight rebounds. Bland is averaging 12.9 points over his last seven games and is coming off an 11-point, nine-rebound performance in a 77-63 win over Iona on Monday.

Merrimack will counter with guard Ernest Shelton, who scored 18 points in the earlier defeat. Shelton has been a consistent scoring force, averaging 18.1 points over his last seven contests. He logged 40 minutes and 18 points in a 68-55 road win at Marist on Monday.

The Peacocks’ recent surge has been built on defense, holding opponents to an average of 62.5 points during their four-game win streak. The Warriors have found their offensive rhythm during their streak, averaging 75.3 points per game in their last three outings.

Saint Peter’s holds a slight historical edge, winning the last meeting decisively. The Warriors will need to solve the Peacocks’ defensive pressure and limit second-chance opportunities to flip the result.

Saturday’s contest is a critical conference matchup as both teams jockey for position in the MAAC standings ahead of the final month of the regular season. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. EST.