Saint Peter's defeats Merrimack 76-63
Saint Peter's Edges Merrimack 76-63 in Conference Thriller
The Yanitelli Center was electric as the home crowd cheered on their team, Saint Peter's, to a hard-fought 76-63 victory over visiting Merrimack on Tuesday night.
The key storyline of this matchup revolved around Saint Peter's ability to capitalize on their home court advantage. The Peacocks came out strong in the first half, building a 38-25 halftime lead that seemed insurmountable at times. However, the visitors refused to back down, trimming the deficit to just 13 points by the end of regulation.
Despite the significant margin, Merrimack's shooting woes ultimately proved too much to overcome. The Colonials struggled with their outside shot, hitting just two of 18 three-point attempts, while Saint Peter's capitalized on their own efficiency from beyond the arc.
Brent Bland led the way for Saint Peter's, scoring 17 points and grabbing eight rebounds in a dominant performance that showcased his versatility. Bryce Eaton chipped in with six assists and 10 points, providing a spark off the bench that proved crucial in the second half.
In contrast, Merrimack struggled to find its rhythm on offense, relying heavily on Ernest Shelton for 18 points. However, even Shelton's impressive scoring night couldn't overcome the team's inability to find consistency from beyond the arc.
The advanced statistics told a similar story, with Saint Peter's boasting an eFG% of 57.3 and FT Rate of 62.5 compared to Merrimack's subpar numbers of 44.2 eFG% and 40.4 FT Rate. The difference in true shooting percentages was equally stark, with the Peacocks posting a 62.1 vs. a 51.4 for the Colonials.
As a conference matchup, this win is significant for Saint Peter's, who now sit at the top of their division standings. Merrimack, meanwhile, drops to 2-3 in the conference and will need to regroup after a tough loss on the road.
The final margin of 13 points may seem significant, but it was actually one of the smallest leads of the night, with Saint Peter's holding an 17-point advantage at their largest. The Peacocks' ability to weather the storm and come out on top ultimately proved decisive in this crucial conference battle.