Merrimack Basketball Heads to Canisius After Clinching Top Seed in MAAC
Merrimack Basketball will visit the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo on Friday, 2/27/2026, for a matchup with the Canisius Golden Griffins as the Warriors close out the regular season before the MAAC Tournament. The trip follows an 88-86 victory over Iona and comes with the practical significance that Merrimack has already clinched the No. 1 spot in the conference tournament.
Merrimack Basketball's recent form and statistical profile
The Warriors enter the game with a 20-9 record and a string of measurable strengths and quirks that shaped the 88-86 win over Iona. In that game Merrimack converted 25 of 28 free throws (89. 3%), hit 11 of 33 three-point attempts and finished with 29 rebounds, 18 assists, 11 turnovers forced and 9 steals. Guard Kevair Kennedy was a clear contributor, logging 20 points on 6-of-16 shooting, 6 rebounds and 7 assists while playing 50 minutes.
Season-long metrics underline the team's tendencies: Merrimack averages 69. 4 points per game and shoots 42. 0% from the field, with a 3-point percentage of 32. 7% and a free-throw mark of 78. 8%. The Warriors turn the ball over 9. 8 times per contest and commit 16. 8 fouls on average. They pull down 28. 9 rebounds per game and have dished out 358 assists, a figure that places them 267th nationally in passing volume.
Defensively, the unit has forced 12. 7 turnovers per game while drawing 17. 1 fouls from opponents. The team has conceded 41. 8% shooting and 38. 8 rebounds per outing, surrendering 29. 6% from three. Merrimack ranks 36th in Division I in points allowed at 67. 5 per game, even as the defense has yielded 372 assists this season, a total that sits near the 172nd mark in that category.
What makes this notable is how those statistical balances—efficient free-throw shooting and a defense that limits scoring—have delivered wins even when perimeter shooting is streaky; the win over Iona showcased the interplay of those elements.
Koessler Athletic Center and Canisius Golden Griffins context
The matchup will be staged at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo, where the home-side Canisius Golden Griffins enter with a 9-20 record. Canisius is coming off a 68-47 loss to Mount St. Mary's in its most recent outing, a game in which the Golden Griffins allowed 32 total rebounds, including 11 offensive boards to the opponent. That defeat and the overall 9-20 ledger underline the urgency for Canisius in its remaining regular-season contests.
For Merrimack the immediate effect of clinching the top seed in the MAAC Tournament is twofold: these final two regular-season games are the last opportunities to tune rotations and manage minutes before postseason play next week, and the team can approach the trip to Western New York with the strategic advantage and preparation time that accompany secured seeding. The timing matters because Merrimack can prioritize health and situational work ahead of the tournament while still maintaining competitive tempo in live games.
Coaches on both sides will weigh matchup minutes and defensive assignments closely; Merrimack's ability to limit opponents to 67. 5 points per game and force turnovers will be central to whether the Warriors sustain momentum into the postseason. For Canisius, tightening defensive rebounding and reducing opposition free-throw opportunities will be critical levers to change the immediate trend.
The winner of Friday's game will not change Merrimack's standing as the top-seeded team in the MAAC, but the final road trip offers both clubs measurable stakes: Merrimack seeks to enter the tournament sharpened and healthy, and Canisius aims to conclude the regular season on a more competitive note at home in Buffalo.
