HAMDEN, Conn. (Interstat) — A Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball showdown between two of the league’s hottest teams is set for Monday when the Quinnipiac Bobcats host the Marist Red Foxes at TD Bank Sports Center. Both teams enter the final game of the 2025 calendar year with winning momentum. Marist (8-3) has won four of its last five, including a dominant 70-51 victory over Stony Brook on Dec. 21. Quinnipiac (9-4) has been nearly as strong, winning five of its last seven, with its most recent outing a 74-66 loss at Hofstra on Dec. 21. The matchup features a compelling duel between standout forwards. Marist’s Elijah Lewis has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 16.2 points over his last five games. He scored 22 points with eight rebounds and four assists in a win over Manhattan on Dec. 7. For Quinnipiac, Amarri Monroe has been a double-double machine, recording three in his last five contests, including a 22-point, 10-rebound performance in a win over UMass Lowell on Dec. 13. The Bobcats will look to leverage their home court, where they are 5-1 this season, with the lone loss a surprising 97-60 defeat to Yale in November. Their offense has found a rhythm since, averaging 78.2 points during their 5-2 stretch. Marist, the visiting team, has shown resilience on the road with wins at Bryant and Dartmouth this season. In their last outing, the Red Foxes showcased a balanced attack against Stony Brook, with Rhyjon Blackwell adding 17 points and Jaden Daughtry contributing nine rebounds and three assists alongside Lewis’s 16 points. This game serves as a key early-season conference barometer before both teams dive deeper into MAAC play in January. The teams will meet again in Poughkeepsie on Jan. 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST on Monday, Dec. 29.