NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — A pivotal Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup with postseason implications is set for Thursday when the Marist Red Foxes visit the Merrimack Warriors. The game at Volpe Athletic Center features two teams jockeying for position, with Marist (16-8) looking to avenge a loss and Merrimack (16-9) aiming for a season sweep. The Warriors won the first meeting 68-55 on Jan. 19, holding Marist to a season-low in points at the time. Marist arrives after a narrow 63-60 road loss at Fairfield last Saturday, which snapped a three-game winning streak. The Red Foxes are led by guard Justin Menard, who scored 18 points in that defeat and is averaging 16.3 points over his last four contests. In the Jan. 19 loss to Merrimack, however, Menard was limited to just 3 points in 16 minutes. Merrimack enters on a three-game winning streak, including a dominant 73-47 victory at Rider last Saturday. Warriors guard Tye Dorset, who scored 18 points in that win, has been a consistent force. He tallied 17 points in the January victory over Marist. Both teams feature balanced attacks. For Marist, Jadin Collins-Roberts (14 points vs. Fairfield) and Rhyjon Blackwell provide support. Merrimack counters with Kevair Kennedy, who dished 5 assists against Rider, and Ernest Shelton, who added 15 points. The contest is critical for conference tournament seeding. Marist seeks to regain momentum on the road, while Merrimack looks to protect its home court and solidify its standing. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.