Metro Atlantic Athletic foes will collide when the Quinnipiac Bobcats (8-17) face off against the Saint Peter’s Peacocks (12-13) at TD Bank Sports Center. Action begins at 8:00 pm ET on Thursday, Feb. 18 and can be seen on ES3.
The Bobcats are hoping to rebound after their 78-59 loss to Iona on Monday. Abdulai Bundu was the team’s leading scorer with 12 points. The Peacocks, meanwhile, are coming off a 70-69 win against Manhattan on Wednesday. Antwon Portley led the team in scoring by accounting for 15 points on 3-for-6 shooting.
Expect this one to be a clinic on boxing out, as two of the nation’s top rebounding teams face off. Quinnipiac is among the nation’s best on the offensive glass, ranking seventh in OR% at 39.9%. Meanwhile, Saint Peter’s ranks 23rd in the nation at corralling defensive boards with a DR% of 75.1%.
This is the second game of the season between these two teams, with the Peacocks winning the first matchup 68-52. Portley had a standout performance in the victory, putting up 25 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three three-pointers.
The Bobcats have gone 8-17 Straight Up (SU) and 6-14 Against The Spread (ATS). The rebounding edge goes to the Bobcats in this matchup, who average a Division I-best 44.9 rebounds per game. Crossing over to the defensive side of the court, the Bobcats prevent teams from making three-pointers, ranking 33rd in the nation with 146 total three-pointers allowed (5.0 per game). Opponents have consistently had their shots rejected by the Bobcats, ranking 33rd in the country in blocks per game with 5.1.
Over on the other bench, the Peacocks have 12-13 SU and 13-8 ATS records. Saint Peter’s has not performed well ATS during its last 10 games, earning a 3-7 record.
The Peacocks’ win over Quinnipiac in their last clash bumped their SU record over their most recent meetings to 3-2. With a 3-2 record, the Peacocks also have the advantage ATS. Neither team held the edge in field goals, rebounds, or three-pointers in a single game during this span.
Predictions: SU Winner – Quinni, ATS Winner – Quinni
Notes
Quinnipiac averages 66.2 points per game, placing the team just 241st in the nation. Saint Peter’s ranks 61st in points allowed, giving up 67.1 points per game.
Saint Peter’s scores just 65.8 points per away game (ranked 201st). Quinnipiac ranks 77th in points allowed at home, giving up 65.3 points.
Saint Peter’s won its last game by a one-point margin. In games decided by a margin of three points or less, Quinnipiac is 2-1. Saint Peter’s is 1-5 in close games this season.
Quinnipiac has an average field goal percentage of 36.2%. Saint Peter’s is a poor 5-13 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
On average, the Quinnipiac Bobcats attempt 22.0 three point field goals per game and the Saint Peter’s Peacocks attempt 19.0. In games where they attempt at least 20 threes, Quinnipiac has an underachieving record of 4-13, while Saint Peter’s is 5-7.
The Quinnipiac Bobcats are the best rebounding team in the country with 44.9 rebounds per game. The Saint Peter’s Peacocks rank 158th, rebounding 36.6 times per game.
Saint Peter’s ranks 211th in offensive rebounds, while Quinnipiac ranks at 60th in defensive rebounds.
Saint Peter’s has forced an average turnover percentage of 18.3% this season. Quinnipiac has a subpar 5-15 record when its TO% is 18.3% or higher.
