- Matchup: Iona Gaels vs Merrimack Warriors
- Game Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026
- Venue: Hammel Court, North Andover, MA
- Broadcast: ESPN+
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
On Sunday, the Merrimack Warriors (18-9) will host the Iona Gaels (15-12) at Hammel Court.
In their previous match, the Iona Gaels faced Niagara and suffered a close defeat, finishing 70-68. The Gaels committed 19 personal fouls compared to Niagara’s 16 and made 9 of 18 three-point attempts. Niagara had an impressive 86.7% from the free-throw line, converting 13 out of 15 shots. On the boards, Niagara grabbed 22 rebounds (3 offensive and 19 defensive), while the Gaels managed 27 total rebounds, including 6 offensive. Iona shot 45.1% from the floor (23 out of 51) and achieved a 76.5% free-throw percentage by converting 13 of 17 attempts.
Toby Harris was a standout performer, shooting 58.3% from the field, with a total of 18 points on 7 of 12 shooting in 23 minutes of play. He also recorded 2 rebounds.
As of now, the Iona Gaels have a record of 15-12 for the season. They average 73.2 points per game, ranking 256th in Division 1, and hold a shooting percentage of 43.8%. From beyond the arc, they hit 35.3% of their attempts (256 of 726) and convert 70.9% from the charity stripe. Team-wise, Iona averages 34.3 rebounds and has collected 376 assists this season, placing them 174th in Division 1 for assists. They average 11.4 turnovers per game while committing 16.0 personal fouls.
On the defensive end, the Gaels force their opponents into 11.8 turnovers per game and draw 15.7 fouls. They rank 307th nationally for assists allowed, surrendering 407 throughout the season, while giving up 43.6% shooting (720 of 1,652). Additionally, they allow 37.9 rebounds per game and rank 159th in Division 1 for points allowed, conceding 73.1 per game.
The Merrimack Warriors’ latest game ended in a win against Quinnipiac, with a score of 56-49. The Warriors collected 20 defensive rebounds and 3 offensive rebounds, totaling 23 boards. They had 10 turnovers but accomplished 13 steals in the match. Quinnipiac committed 16 fouls, giving Merrimack 20 free-throw attempts, of which they converted 18 for a stellar 90.0% shooting from the line. The Warriors made 4 of 16 three-point shots (25.0%) and finished the game shooting 34.7% (17 out of 49). They allowed Quinnipiac to shoot 27.9% from the field on 17 out of 61 attempts.
Kevair Kennedy was crucial in the Warriors’ victory, scoring 24 points across 40 minutes, while also recording 3 assists and 7 rebounds. He shot 40.0% from the field, hitting 6 of 15 attempts.
Currently, the Merrimack Warriors boast an 18-9 record this season. They average 68.4 points per game, totaling 1,846 for the season, and convert 77.3% from the free-throw line. The Warriors average 12.1 assists per game (ranking 309th in college) and have 10.0 turnovers per game. They pull down 28.8 rebounds on average and have a field goal percentage of 42.1%, ranking 323rd in college basketball.
Defensively, the Warriors rank 25th nationally for points allowed, averaging 66.7 per game. They force 12.8 turnovers each game and allow 41.5% shooting (ranking 56th in Division 1). Merrimack gives up 29.0% from three-point range and their opponents convert 71.6% of free-throw attempts. They permit an average of 12.7 assists and 38.8 rebounds, placing them 125th and 350th, respectively, in college basketball.
Who will cover the spread in today’s NCAA matchup?
Recommendation: Bet on Iona
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
