Preview: First-place Merrimack will host red-hot Sacred Heart on Sunday afternoon at Lawler Arena

The Warriors enter the weekend sitting atop the MAAC standings and will play just once, hosting Sacred Heart on Sunday afternoon at Lawler Arena.

The Pioneers are 5-6 in MAAC play and 9-13 overall, but they arrive with momentum. After opening conference play with a 1-6 mark, Sacred Heart has reeled off five consecutive wins dating back to a Jan. 14 victory over Siena. The Pioneers will play at Quinnipiac on Friday night before making the short turnaround trip to Merrimack on Sunday.

The Warriors, meanwhile, are coming off last Saturday’s win over Saint Peter’s and carry a 9-2 conference record into the weekend, sitting at 13-9 overall as they look to continue to separate themselves at the top of the league.

Game Details

When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Where: Lawler Arena (North Andover, Mass.)
TV/Stream: Watch (ESPN+)

Team Statistics

Game Notes

— The Warriors have leaned heavily on Kevair Kennedy, Ernest Shelton, and Tye Dorset, and the minutes reflect it. That trio enters the weekend ranked 33rd, 14th, and 23rd nationally in minutes share, respectively. Shelton, in particular, has been on the floor for more than 90 percent of Merrimack’s total minutes this season.

— The Pioneers are driven up front by their size. Six-foot-nine senior Anquan Hill has been highly efficient in his time on the floor, while six-foot-nine freshman Abdou Yadd has also been a significant contributor when healthy. Yadd, however, has missed the last three games.

Hill is averaging 16.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while Yadd has chipped in 7.5 points per game in 16.9 minutes of action.

— Sacred Heart has been one of the MAAC’s most effective offensive teams, ranking in the top three in several categories, including efficiency and field-goal percentage, while also sitting atop the league in three-point shooting.

Ironically, the Pioneers have struggled on the defensive end beyond the arc, ranking 10th in the MAAC in three-point defense. They’re also dead-last in two-point defense.