NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — A pivotal Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference clash featuring two of the league’s hottest teams will unfold Friday when the Siena Saints visit the Merrimack Warriors at Volpe Athletic Center. Both teams enter with identical 18-9 overall records, setting the stage for a critical late-season matchup with conference tournament seeding implications. The contest is a rematch of a Jan. 9 meeting, which Merrimack won 63-59 in Loudonville, N.Y. Siena arrives riding momentum from a 67-63 road victory at Marist on Sunday, powered by a season-high 19 points from forward Antonio Chandler. The Saints have won four of their last six, though their performance has fluctuated, including a 74-62 home loss to Quinnipiac on Feb. 13. Chandler’s production has been a key variable; in Siena’s last three wins, he has averaged 12.7 points, compared to just 4.0 points in their recent losses. Merrimack, however, presents the more formidable current streak. The Warriors have won six consecutive games since a one-point loss at Iona on Jan. 22, a run anchored by guard Kevair Kennedy. During the winning streak, Kennedy has been dominant, averaging 20.5 points, 5.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds while regularly logging nearly the entire game. He scored 24 points in Sunday’s 56-49 defensive grind at Quinnipiac. The Warriors have suffocated opponents during their streak, holding five of those six foes under 60 points. That defensive prowess will be tested by a Siena squad that has scored 78 or more points in three of its last five victories. Friday’s winner will seize sole possession of the better league positioning and gain a potential tiebreaker advantage. For Siena, it’s a chance for redemption and to prove it can solve Merrimack’s stifling defense. For Merrimack, it’s an opportunity to solidify its status as a top contender and extend its surge to seven games. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern.