Marist's trip to Alumni Gymnasium was a successful one, as the Red Foxes handed Rider a 71-49 defeat. The 22-point margin of victory was a reflection of Marist's balanced attack, which saw three players reach double figures in scoring. Justin Menard led the way with 15 points, while Rhyjon Blackwell and Elijah Lewis added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
The game got off to a strong start for Marist, as they took a 30-21 lead into halftime. Rider's Zion Cruz did his best to keep the Broncs in the game, scoring 13 points on the night, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Red Foxes' relentless offense. Caleb Smith chipped in with 9 points and 6 rebounds for Rider, but the team's struggles on the defensive end ultimately was their downfall.
In the second half, Marist continued to pull away, outscoring Rider 41-28 to seal the victory. The Red Foxes' ability to move the ball and find open shooters was a key factor in their success, as they were able to exploit Rider's defense and get high-percentage looks at the basket. On the other end, Marist's defense was able to limit Rider's scoring opportunities, holding the Broncs to just 49 points on the night.
The win improves Marist's record to 13-7, and while it may not have been a marquee victory, it's a Quadrant 4 win that helps to bolster their resume. For Rider, the loss drops them to 2-17, and it's a Quadrant 3 defeat that won't do much to help their tournament chances. However, with a net ranking of 358, the Broncs were not expected to give Marist much of a challenge, and the final score reflects that.
Given the disparity in talent and experience between the two teams, the outcome of this game was not particularly surprising. However, the margin of victory was impressive, and it speaks to Marist's ability to take care of business against lesser opponents. As the Red Foxes continue to navigate their schedule, they'll need to keep racking up wins like this one to stay in the mix for a tournament bid.
In terms of resume implications, this win doesn't do a whole lot to boost Marist's profile, but it's a win that they needed to get. With a net ranking of 151, the Red Foxes are still very much on the bubble, and they'll need to keep winning games like this one to stay in the conversation. For Rider, the loss is just another setback in a long season, but they'll look to bounce back and try to pull off an upset in their next game.