Marist controlled the tempo from the opening tip, cruising to an 82-67 win over Fairfield at McCann Arena. The Red Foxes' Elijah Lewis led the charge, scoring 17 points to pace a balanced attack that saw three players reach double figures. Lewis' performance was complemented by Parby Kabamba's 15 points and 5 rebounds, as well as Justin Menard's 12 points, as Marist improved to 13-7 on the season.
The first half was all Marist, as the Red Foxes built a 43-29 lead by halftime. Fairfield struggled to find its footing, shooting just 38% from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The Stags' Braden Sparks tried to keep his team afloat, scoring 10 of his 16 points in the first half, but it wasn't enough to overcome Marist's onslaught. Tony Williams and Deuce Turner chipped in with 12 and 9 points, respectively, for Fairfield, but the Stags' offense was unable to keep pace with Marist's high-powered attack.
The second half saw Marist maintain its lead, as the Red Foxes outscored Fairfield 39-38 over the final 20 minutes. Kabamba and Menard continued to contribute on the offensive end, while Marist's defense held Fairfield to just 41% shooting from the field for the game. The Stags, now 13-9 on the season, were unable to mount a significant comeback, as Marist's lead never dipped below 10 points in the second half.
With the win, Marist earns a Quadrant 4 victory, which may not significantly boost its tournament resume but does help to pad its win total. For Fairfield, the loss is a Quadrant 3 defeat, which won't severely damage its postseason hopes but does make the road to the NCAA Tournament a bit more difficult. The Stags' current NET ranking of 247 will likely take a hit, while Marist's ranking of 151 should remain relatively stable.
As the season enters its final stretch, Marist want to build on this win and make a push for a stronger tournament seed. With its balanced attack and stingy defense, the Red Foxes have the potential to make some noise in the postseason. For now, they'll enjoy the fruits of their labor, having dominated a solid Fairfield team on their home court. The win is a reflection of Marist's strength and depth, and the Red Foxes want to carry this momentum forward as they chase a tournament bid.