Hamden, Conn. (March 6, 2025)—Quinnipiac fended off a game Mount St. Mary's squad, 79-70, on Thursday night at M&T Bank Arena is Hamden, Conn. The Mount falls to 18-12 overall and 11-8 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
Despite tonight's loss, the Mount has clinched a first round bye at next week's MAAC Championships which will be hosted in Atlantic City, N.J. at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on March 11-15. The top six teams in the standings earn a first round bye.
Trailing 33-32 at the half, the Mount scored the first four points of the second stanza to take a 36-33 lead. The Bobcats answered with the next eight points to take a 41-36 advantage after a Paul Otieno three-pointer. Quinnipiac maintained a narrow lead from there, with the Mountaineers pulling within one point on four occasions.
Xavier Lipscomb's free throw with 3:55 left pulled the Mount within one at 66-65, but the Bobcats answered with a Khaden Bennett three-pointer.
Dallas Hobbs then connected on a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 69-67, but Amarri Monroe's jumper made it a four-point game. The Mount turned it over on the next possession, and Quinnipiac hit two free throws for a six-point advantage with 1:29 on the clock. From there, the Bobcats were able to hold off the Mount for the win.
Dola Adebayo and
Carmelo Pacheco each had 17 points to pace the Mount in the game. Adebayo was 8-for-16 from the field while adding five rebounds. Pacheco hit 5-of-8 from three-point range en route to his 17-point night. Hobbs added 10 points and six assists while Lipscomb chipped in eight points, nine rebounds and six assists. Monroe led Quinnipiac with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Bennett added 20 off the bench.
The Mount shot 41.5 percent in the game, and was 11-for-28 (.393) from three-point range. Quinnipiac shot 45.8 percent and was 7-of-24 (.292) from beyond the arc.
Trailing 29-21 with 3:43 left, the Mount closed the half on an 11-to-4 run to cut the deficit to one at the break. Adebayo started the run with a three-pointer ahead of a Quinnipiac bucket in the paint. Lipscomb answered with a post-up, and Hobbs connected on a long three to cut the deficit to 31-29. Quinnipiac's Khaden Bennett made it 33-29, but a Pacheco three made it a one-point game at the break.
The Mount shot 14-of-35 (.400) from the field in the first half, hitting 4-of-13 (.308) from three-point range. Quinnipiac shot 14-of-31 (.452) overall, but was 1-of-11 (.091) from beyond the arc.
NOTES
- The Mountaineers have clinched a first round bye for the MAAC Tournament. The Mount can finish anywhere from the No. 4 to the No. 6 seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament depending on Saturday's results.
- The Mount is currently in a four-way tie for fourth place with Iona and Manhattan with an 11-8 league record. Sacred Heart is right behind with a 10-9 record.
- Quinnipiac clinched the MAAC regular season title with today's win.
- It is the first time this season the Mount has lost when scoring 70 or more points. The Mount is now 14-1 in those contests.
UP NEXT: The Mountaineers close out the regular season at home against Marist on Saturday, March 8, at 4 pm. The Mount will honor this year's senior class prior to the game.
