POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The men's basketball team will close its regular season on Sunday with a 2 p.m. home matchup versus Niagara. Marist (12-17, 6-11 MAAC) and Niagara (13-17, 8-9 MAAC) will be fighting to extend their momentum into next weekend's MAAC Tournament. Prior to the contest, the Marist Athletic Department will honor seniors: point guard R.J. Hall and managers Edmond Penn and Robert Hoey.
LAST TIME OUT - The Red Foxes earned a hard fought victory over rival Siena on Thursday night by a score of 61-52. Tough defense and efficient offense down the stretch led the
team to victory.
Siena was held to 4 points in the final 4:47. This follows Marist's efforts versus Fairfield; 4 points in final 7:40 and Loyola 4 points in final 5:20.
Offensively, Marist closed on a 15-4 run, including a 9-0 stretch in the final 1:52. The team went 2-2 on 3-Ptrs and 7-8 from the foul line.
Chavaughn Lewis was the Red Foxes’ top scorer with 16 points. He also led the team with a career-tying total of nine rebounds.
With his basket at 12:17 in the 2nd half, Lewis took over sole possession of Marist’s all-time Division 1 Freshman scoring record that was previously held by Jay Gavin and his 395
points of 2007-08.
Isaiah Morton was the only other Red Fox in double figures as he scored 15. The freshman tied a career-high with six assists.
With three blocks in the game, Adam Kemp overtook Kareem Hill for #5 all-time in career blocks with 95.
SCOUTING NIAGARA - The Purple Eagles come to Poughkeepsie as winners of four of their past five games, including a 59-56 win at Saint Peter's on Friday evening.
Individually, they are three double figure scorers: Juan'ya Green (17.1 ppg), Antoine Mason (15.2 ppg) and Marvin Jordan (10.7 ppg). Green, a leading contender for MAAC Rookie of the Year, is third in the MAAC in scoring, third in assists at 4.3 per game and second in steals with 1.8. Jordan is also ranked almost the league's best in three point baskets made with 2.5 a game.
Overall, Niagara holds the series lead at 20-14.
COMPARING THE SQUADS -Marist comes into Sunday afternoon's contest averaging 67.6 points for compared to Niagara's 69.7 average. Defensively, the Red Foxes hold a slight lead with 72.8 points allowed versus 73.4 for the Purple Eagles. Of note, Marist's points allowed average in the past seven games (5-2 record) is 62.3.
MARIST ON THE NATIONAL SCENE - With five players on the team with ten or more blocked
shots, Marist’s average of 4.6 per game ranks it 51st amongst Division 1 competitors.
The Red Foxes trail national leader Kentucky, who blocks 9.1 shots a game and are tied with Oklahoma State and Harvard with 4.6 rejections per game.
Marist’s 72.3 free throw conversation rate ranks 73rd.
Individually, Adam Kemp is 33rd in the nation with 2.3 blocked shots and 140th with 7.3 rebounds per game.
Chavaughn Lewis is 167th with 1.6 steals per contest.
MILESTONES TO WATCH -
Devin Price (215) is seven assists away from tying Randy Encarnacion (222) for the 10th-most assists in Marist history.
Price (118) is also five made three-pointers away from tying Sean Kennedy (123) for the 10th-most makes.
