GNAC Quarterfinal Preview - No. 8 Anna Maria at No. 1 Albertus Magnus
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Anna Maria (5-21) | 26 | 41 | 67 |
|
Albertus Magnus (21-4) | 43 | 49 | 92 |
PAXTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College men's basketball team has qualified for its fifth-straight Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tournament quarterfinal and will travel to Albertus Magnus on Tuesday, Feb. 21 for a 7:00 p.m. contest.
Quarterfinals - Tuesday, February 21
Game 1: #8 Anna Maria at #1 Albertus Magnus - 7:00 PM
Game 2: #5 Saint Joseph's of Maine at #4 Mount Ida - 7:00 PM
Game 3: #6 Emmanuel at #3 Lasell - 7:00 PM
Game 4: #7 Suffolk at #2 Johnson & Wales - 7:30 PM
Semifinals - Thursday, February 23
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
Final - Saturday, February 25
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
NO. 8 ANNA MARIA VS. NO. 1 ALBERTUS MAGNUS
Anna Maria finished out the season with a 5-13 record in the conference. They earned the eighth and final spot in GNAC tournament play this season as they beat out Lasell in a tie-breaking decision due to their 68-67 win over #4 Mount Ida on December 1st.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Anna Maria College men's basketball team fell twice to the Falcons of Albertus Magnus College in regular season play. In their first meeting on Jan. 21, the AMCATS fell by a three-point margin 85-82. The two teams played again on Feb. 11th as the AMCATS traveled to Albertus Magnus and fell 87-66.
Only 10 days will separate the quarterfinal game from their last meeting.
The AMCATS are 2-10 all-time against the Falcons dating back to the first meeting on Jan. 21, 2012. Last season the AMCATS went 1-1 with the Falcons taking an 81-80 GNAC victory in their second meeting of the season. Up until that game Albertus Magnus had won six straight games over Anna Maria since the 2012-2013 season.
SCOUTING THE AMCATS
The AMCATS enter Tuesday's quarterfinal game after picking up a 99-76 victory over Rivier at home on Saturday. As a team, Anna Maria averages 67.6 points per game and shoots at a 44.4 percent efficiency. The AMCATS hit an average of five three-pointers per contest. Defensively, the AMCATS allow an average of 77.9 points per game, while opponents shoot at 49.3 percent.
Freshman forward, Mike Rapoza (Charlton, Mass.) leads the AMCATS this season averaging 18 points per game and 12.9 rebounds per game. Senior guard, David Jean-Louis (Miramar, Fla.) follows that lead with an average of 11.4 points per game and juniors Liam Pickett (Oxford, Mass.) and Kenneth Graham (West Haven, conn.) check in with 10.9 and 10.7 points per game respectively.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Albertus Magnus is on a six game winning streak and has not lost in the month of February. Most recently they picked up a 110-89 victory over #4 Mount Ida at home on Saturday. As a team, Albertus Magnus averages 87.7 points per game and shoots 47.4 percent from the floor. The Falcons defense allows 76.2 points per game on 40.7 percent shooting.
Junior forward and six-time GNAC Player of the Week, Jaqhawn Walters (Hartford, Conn.) leads the Falcons this season averaging 21.4 points per game and 14.4 rebounds per game. Senior guard, Grant Ellis (Newark, N.J.) follows his lead with an average of 19.7 points per game while senior Devin Coleman (Bridgeport, conn.) checks in with 16.2 points per game.
WINNER ADVANCES