Marist Red Foxes Dominate Manhattan Jaspers 84-70 Behind Justin Menard's 30 Points

The Marist Red Foxes traveled to Draddy Gymnasium to face off against the Manhattan Jaspers, and from the opening tip, it was clear that Marist was the superior team, outscoring Manhattan 42-35 in the first half. Manhattan's Terrance Jones was the lone bright spot for the Jaspers, scoring 15 of his 29 points in the first 20 minutes, including 3 three-pointers. However, Marist's Justin Menard was unstoppable, scoring 18 points in the first half, including 4 three-pointers, to give Marist a 7-point lead at the break. Marist's 42 points in the first half marked their highest scoring half in the last 5 games, and it was a sign of things to come. Over the last 5 games, Manhattan has been averaging 73 points per game, but Marist's defense was able to hold them to just 35 points in the second half, a full 10 points below their average over that stretch.

As the second half got underway, Marist continued to pour it on, outscoring Manhattan 42-35 over the final 20 minutes. Rhyjon Blackwell was a key contributor for Marist, scoring 12 of his 22 points in the second half, including 2 three-pointers. Manhattan, on the other hand, struggled to find any rhythm on offense, with Jones being the only Jasper to score in double figures. Anthony Isaac and Jaden Winston, who have been key contributors for Manhattan all season, combined for just 23 points on 8-20 shooting. Marist's defense was able to hold Manhattan to just 35% shooting from the field in the second half, including 2-10 from three-point range. This marked the third time in the last 5 games that Manhattan has shot below 40% from the field in the second half, a trend that has contributed to their 2-3 record over that stretch.

Menard's 30 points were a game-high, and he was able to get them in a variety of ways, including 6 three-pointers. Blackwell's 22 points were a key factor in Marist's win, as he was able to get to the rim at will and also knock down a few shots from the perimeter. For Manhattan, Jones's 29 points were not enough to overcome the team's lackluster performance on both ends of the floor. Isaac and Winston, who have been key contributors for Manhattan all season, were virtually non-existent in the second half, combining for just 5 points over the final 20 minutes. This lack of production from Manhattan's supporting cast has been a trend over the last 5 games, with the team relying heavily on Jones to carry the load. In fact, over the last 5 games, Jones has accounted for 32% of Manhattan's total points, a number that is unsustainable over the long term.

Marist's win was not a surprise, as CHD Scout had predicted a Marist victory by 8.8 points.

The prediction was correct, and it's clear that Marist's offense was the difference-maker in this game. Marist's ability to score from both the perimeter and the paint was too much for Manhattan to handle, and their defense was able to hold Manhattan to just 70 points, a full 3 points below their average over the last 5 games. Marist's offense has been a strength all season, with the team averaging 71.4 points per game, but it was their defense that was the key factor in this win. By holding Manhattan to just 35 points in the second half, Marist was able to pull away and secure the 14-point victory.

The win for Marist marks their 17th of the season, and it's a key victory as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. Over the last 5 games, Marist has been averaging 63.6 points per game, but they were able to break out of that slump in a big way against Manhattan. For Manhattan, the loss drops them to 12-17 on the season, and it's a tough pill to swallow after they had been playing some of their best basketball of the season over the last 5 games. Manhattan had been averaging 73 points per game over that stretch, but they were unable to keep up with Marist's high-powered offense.

The win for Marist is a big one, as it helps to solidify their resume heading into the final stretch of the season. With a current NET rank of 168, Marist is still on the outside looking in when it comes to the NCAA Tournament, but a win like this can only help their cause. For Manhattan, the loss is a tough one, as it drops them to 12-17 on the season and makes it even more difficult for them to make a push for the tournament. With a current NET rank of 322, Manhattan is a long shot to make the tournament, and they must win out and get some help from other teams in order to have any chance. The loss also drops Manhattan to 2-3 over their last 5 games, a stretch in which they have been outscored by an average of 2.2 points per game.

In terms of the bigger picture, this win for Marist is a big one, as it helps to establish them as one of the top teams in the conference. With a 17-10 record, Marist is in a good position to make a run at the conference title, and a win like this can only help their confidence heading into the final stretch of the season. For Manhattan, the loss is a tough one, but they must bounce back quickly if they want to make a push for the tournament. With just a few games left on the schedule, Manhattan must win out and get some help from other teams in order to have any chance. The next few games matters for both teams, as they look to establish themselves as contenders in the conference.