Mount St. Mary's solidified their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standing Friday night with a decisive 69-58 victory over Saint Peter's. Terrell Ard Jr. delivered a standout performance with 18 points and 13 rebounds, fueling the Mountaineers' sixth win in their last eight games.
The Mountaineers (16-10, 9-6 MAAC) demonstrated balanced scoring with three players reaching double digits. Dola Adebayo contributed 14 points and 9 rebounds, while Xavier Lipscomb added 12 points through clutch three-point shooting. This trio's effort helped overcome Saint Peter's late push in the second half.
Saint Peter's (9-14, 4-11 MAAC) struggled to contain Mount St. Mary's paint presence, losing the rebound battle 42-34. Marcus Randolph led the Peacocks with 17 points, but the team shot just 38% from the field. Key defensive stops in the final eight minutes sealed the Mountaineers' victory.
- Top Performers: Terrell Ard Jr. (18 pts/13 reb), Dola Adebayo (14 pts), Xavier Lipscomb (12 pts)
- Critical Stat: Mount St. Mary's scored 15 second-chance points
- Up Next: Sunday conference matchups against Rider and Sacred Heart
With this win, Mount St. Mary's remains in contention for a top-four MAAC tournament seed. Coach Dan Engelstad emphasized post-game:
'Our defensive intensity in crunch time shows this team's growth.'The Mountaineers host Rider Sunday, while Saint Peter's faces Sacred Heart in a crucial battle to avoid conference cellar positioning.