Box Score Emmitsburg, Md. (February 23, 2025)--Mount St. Mary's clinched a berth to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament with a 79-72 victory over Rider today at Knott Arena. The top 10 teams from the MAAC qualify for this year's MAAC Tournament, which will be held at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on March 11-15.
Dallas Hobbs and
Terrell Ard Jr. led six Mountaineers in double figures with 13 points each in the win. The Mount improves to 17-10 overall and 10-6 in the MAAC.
Rider (10-18, 6-11 MAAC) took its biggest lead of the game, 24-15, after a Tariq Ingraham lay-up with eight minutes left in the opening half. The Mount responded, using an 8-0 run to make it a one-point game.
Arlandus Keyes started the run with a three-pointer with a
Dallas Hobbs triple capping it. Rider scored the next four points and held a 30-27 advantage with just under two minutes left in the half. The Mountaineers scored the next seven points, with
Carmelo Pacheco beating the hafltime buzzer with a three-pointer from the right wing, to take a 34-30 advantage at the break.
The Broncs opened the second half with three-pointers from Ruben Rodriguez and T.J. Weeks Jr. to regain the lead at 36-34. Mount St. Mary's answered with a Jedy Cordila bucket and a
Xavier Lipscomb three-pointer to take a 39-36 lead. The game remained tight for the next few minutes with the Mount holding a 48-47 advantage with 13:01 left in the contest. Keyes connected on his second three-pointer of the game to push the lead to four, and Ard Jr. added a pair of free throws for a 53-47 advantage. Ard Jr. then provided the highlight of the day, slamming home an alley-oop pass from
Dallas Hobbs in transition to put the Mountaineers ahead by eight. Pacheco capped the 9-0 run by draining two free throws after a Rider technical for the Mount's biggest lead of the game, 57-47.
The Mount withstood a Rider rally to preserve the win. The Broncs cut the Mount lead to 65-63 after a Zion Cruz three, but Pacheco was fouled on a three-pointer on the Mount's ensuing possession, and he hit all three free throws for a 68-63 lead. Leading 70-67, Lipscomb provided a clutch three from the right corner with 2:44 on the clock to give the Mount a six-point advantage. From there, the Mountaineers were able to secure the win.
Ard. Jr finished the game with 13 points and five rebounds while Hobbs added 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Dola Adebayo and Lipscomb contributed 11 points and eight rebounds each, while Cordilia and Pacheco each tallied 10 in the win. Rider was paced by Weeks Jr.'s 18 points with Ingraham adding a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.
GAME NOTES
- The Mount clinched a winning season with today's win over Rider. The Mount's 17 wins are the most since the 2017-18 team finished with an 18-14 record.
- Mount St. Mary's has 10 MAAC wins this year, the most by the team since moving to the MAAC for the 2022-23 season.
- The Mount is now 13-0 this season when scoring 70 or more points, and 12-0 when four or more players reach double figures in scoring.
- Mount St. Mary's held a 42-to-31 edge on the boards, and is a +11.1 in rebound margin over the past seven games.
- Ard Jr. is averaging 11.8 points and 9.3 rebounds over the past four games. He missed the previous seven contests due to injury. The Mountaineers are 8-1 this year in MAAC games with Ard Jr. in the lineup.
UP NEXT: The Mountaineers head to Fairfield on Friday, February 28, at 7:00 p.m.
