The Merrimack Warriors pulled off a stunning 25-point upset over the Marist Red Foxes, winning 81-56 in a non-conference matchup at Lawler Arena. This victory marked a significant upset, as Marist entered the game with a NET ranking of 149, while Merrimack sat at 197. Kevair Kennedy led the charge for Merrimack, scoring 22 points and dishing out 7 assists, while Jason Schofield paced Marist with 13 points and 11 rebounds. The 25-point margin of victory was a far cry from the predicted 4.3-point win for Marist, as Merrimack dominated from start to finish, outscoring Marist 35-30 in the first half and 46-26 in the second.
Kevair Kennedy's 22 Points Lead Merrimack to 81-56 Upset Over Marist
The game got off to a competitive start, with Marist trailing by just 5 points, 35-30, at halftime. However, Merrimack came out firing in the second half, using a 14-2 run to build a 49-32 lead with 14:45 remaining. Marist struggled to mount a comeback, shooting just 32.1% from the field and committing 15 turnovers, which Merrimack converted into 20 points. The Warriors, on the other hand, shot 51.9% from the field and knocked down 7 three-pointers, including 3 from Kevair Kennedy. As the final buzzer sounded, Merrimack had secured an impressive 81-56 victory, handing Marist its 9th loss of the season. The win improved Merrimack's record to 17-9, while Marist fell to 16-9.
Kevair Kennedy was the standout performer for Merrimack, scoring 22 points on 8-12 shooting and adding 7 assists. Tye Dorset chipped in with 15 points, while Andrés Marrero contributed 13 points off the bench. For Marist, Jason Schofield led the way with 13 points and 11 rebounds, marking his 10th double-digit scoring effort of the season. Rhyjon Blackwell added 11 points, and Jaden Daughtry posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The performance of Kennedy and Schofield was a highlight of the game, with both players showcasing their skills and leading their teams in scoring.
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Merrimack's dominant performance was reflected in the box score, as the Warriors outrebounded Marist 38-32 and outshot them 51.9% to 32.1% from the field. Merrimack also committed just 10 turnovers, while Marist struggled with 15 giveaways. The Warriors' 7 three-pointers were a key factor in their victory, as they outscored Marist 21-9 from beyond the arc. Additionally, Merrimack's bench outscored Marist's 24-15, with Andrés Marrero leading the way with 13 points. The 25-point margin of victory was the largest of the season for Merrimack, and marked a significant upset over a Marist team that had been ranked 149th in the NET rankings.
The CHD Scout prediction model was way off here, predicting a 4.3-point win for Marist. Instead, Merrimack dominated from start to finish, winning by 25 points. The model missed the mark on Merrimack's offense, which scored 81 points, 16 more than predicted. The Warriors' defense was also more effective than expected, holding Marist to just 56 points, 13 fewer than predicted. The 25-point margin of victory was a significant departure from the predicted 4.3-point win, and marked a major upset in the non-conference matchup.
This win was a significant boost to Merrimack's resume, as it marked a Q3 victory over a Marist team that had been ranked 149th in the NET rankings. The win improved Merrimack's record to 17-9, and marked its 10th win over a team ranked outside the top 200. For Marist, the loss was a setback, as it fell to 16-9 and suffered its 9th loss of the season. The loss also marked Marist's 5th Q3 loss of the season, which could impact its NCAA tournament chances. With the win, Merrimack improved its NET ranking to 197, while Marist fell to 149.
Merrimack want to build on its momentum when it hosts its next opponent, while Marist will try to bounce back from the loss on the road. The Warriors' next game is scheduled for February 15th, while Marist's next matchup is set for February 17th. Both teams want to improve their tournament chances with strong performances in their upcoming games.