Three days after a dramatic overtime win at home against the Rider Broncs, a game in which the Quinnipiac Bobcats (13-10, 8-4 MAAC) scored 9 points in the final 49 seconds to send the game to overtime, Baker Dunleavy’s squad will look to make it five wins in their last six when the Marist Red Foxes (10-14, 5-7 MAAC) stroll into Hamden Friday night. The New York school is currently on a two-game winning streak of their own.
Players to Watch
Quinnipiac- Aaron Robinson
He might not have scored in the last seven games, but this just feels like a game Robinson will take advantage of. The senior is also a solid three-point shooter who has not shot the ball as well as he would have liked to since his 12-point outing against Fairfield on January 13. Although he might not be Quinnipiac’s main threat from deep, look for him to come off the bench and be the main beneficiary of the Bobcats continuing to space the floor well.
Marist- Ryan Funk
Funk hasn’t had a start all season, but is third on the team in total minutes, second in field goals made and leads the team in three pointers attempted and made. Brian Parker might shoulder the load of the Marist offense, but Ryan Funk is the kind of players coaches love in the MAAC, especially when going on the road to play one of the best teams in the conference. His energy, confidence to shoot from anywhere and playmaking ability will be needed for the Red Foxes to win this contest.
Keys to the Game
Quinnipiac- Space the Floor
The Bobcats come into this one shooting over 48 percent from the floor in their last six games. An obvious reason for this success is the athleticism of Cam Young, who is so athletic and dynamic that he can turn any attempt into a good shot selection against MAAC opposition. One way Young can take those shots or create his own look is from good floor spacing. The Bobcats have six guys that shoot the ball well, and when those players are on the floor, they tend to position themselves along the outside of the 3-point arc. This allows them to making timely cuts to the basket, which will allow for focus to be taken off of Young, who will have the opportunity to shoot the ball himself or feed a teammate (think Tyrese Williams, 6-10 from 3-point land and 23 points in his last contest).
Marist- Find the Right Looks
When you go on the road against a team that has a better record than you, it’s important to lean on your best players to try and escape with a victory. Brian Parker (14.3 points per game), Ryan Funk (11.8 PPG) and Isaiah Lamb (8.3 PPG) are three players for Marist that know how to consistently score. Lamb specifically leads the team in 3-point percentage and total rebounds, which shows off his versatility. Funk hasn’t started a game all year, but he averages over 27 minutes a game and gives the Red Foxes energy on both ends of the floor. Having said that, for Marist to come away with a win in this one, Brian Parker is going to have to take control and drop above his points per game average.
The Game
Jonathan Banks and Will Fowler will have the call for Friday night’s game at 8 p.m. You can listen in live at mixlr.com/qbsn and follow @qbsn on Twitter.
