Marist Edges Canisius 88-86 in Thrilling Contest

Marist's trip to the Koessler Athletic Center on January 30 was a nail-biter, as the Red Foxes escaped with an 88-86 victory over Canisius. The win was predicted by CHD Scout, who forecasted a Marist victory by 9.6 points, but the actual margin was a much narrower 2 points. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and playing tenacious defense.

Bryan Ndjonga was the standout performer for Canisius, scoring 21 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in a valiant effort. He was supported by Kahlil Singleton's 20 points and Javante Edwards' 17 points and 5 assists. However, it was not enough to overcome the balanced attack of Marist, led by Justin Menard's 22 points. Menard was ably assisted by Elijah Lewis, who posted a impressive all-around stat line of 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Rhyjon Blackwell, who chipped in with 20 points and 5 rebounds.

The first half saw Marist take a slim 37-35 lead into the break, but Canisius came out strong in the second half, determined to protect their home court. The Golden Griffins pushed the pace and took a lead, but Marist refused to back down. The Red Foxes rallied behind Menard's scoring and Lewis's all-around play, eventually taking the lead for good in the final minutes. Canisius had a chance to tie or take the lead, but Marist's defense held firm, securing the 88-86 win.

The victory for Marist was a Quadrant 4 win, which may not significantly boost their tournament resume, but it does help to pad their win total. For Canisius, the loss was a Quadrant 3 defeat, which will not hurt their resume too much, but it does make their already difficult path to the tournament even more challenging. With a current NET ranking of 151, Marist is still on the periphery of the tournament conversation, but they must continue to win and hope for some help from other teams to make a serious push for a bid.

The loss drops Canisius to 8-14 on the season, and with a NET ranking of 343, their tournament hopes are all but extinguished. However, the Golden Griffins can still take pride in their performance, particularly from Ndjonga, who has been a bright spot in an otherwise difficult season. As for Marist, they improve to 14-7 and want to build on this win as they continue their push for a tournament bid. The Red Foxes have a tough road ahead, but with performances like this, they will be a tough out for any opponent.