The Marist Red Foxes secured a narrow 65-63 victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers at McCann Arena, with the two-point margin underscoring the closely contested nature of the game. Despite trailing at halftime, Marist was able to outscore Sacred Heart in the second half, 32-27, and ultimately emerge with the win. The first half saw Sacred Heart take a 36-33 lead into the break, but Marist's ability to limit its opponent's scoring in the second half proved decisive.
The outcome of this matchup between Marist, ranked 165 in the NET rankings, and Sacred Heart, ranked 298, was essentially decided by a single possession. The Red Foxes' slight edge in the second half, combined with their ability to contain Sacred Heart's offense, allowed them to overcome their halftime deficit and secure the two-point victory. The close margin and competitive half scores suggest that this game was a tightly contested, back-and-forth affair, with the outcome hanging in the balance until the final whistle.
A 22-point, 3-rebound performance from Justin Menard set the tone for Marist, as his 7-18 field goal shooting and 4-12 three-point shooting helped propel the team to victory. With the game on the line, Menard's ability to score from beyond the arc, including 4-12 three-pointers, proved crucial. His 3 assists also demonstrated an ability to distribute the ball effectively to his teammates.
Erupting for 15 points, Myles Parker brought a significant scoring punch to Marist's lineup, with his 5-7 field goal shooting and 5-7 three-point shooting proving particularly efficient. The freshman standout Parby Kabamba contributed 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, while also recording 1 block, with his 5-12 field goal shooting and 3-9 three-point shooting rounding out a solid all-around performance. His ability to score and facilitate, much like Menard and Parker, was a key factor in Marist's narrow 65-63 win.
Finishing with 21 points from Nyle Ralph-Beyer, including 4 three-pointers, wasn't enough to overcome the deficit, as his team struggled to find consistency beyond his scoring. His 7 rebounds also led to few second-chance opportunities, ultimately falling short. Despite the loss, the team's leading scorer, Anquan Hill, managed to secure 8 rebounds, but his 16 points on 7-20 shooting from the field were not sufficient to keep pace with Marist's offense.
The supporting cast, led by Dashon Gittens, saw him finish with 15 points and a team-high 9 rebounds, along with 4 assists, but his efforts were stifled by Marist's defense, which limited Sacred Heart's overall production. His 2 three-pointers and 5 made free throws were notable, yet the team's inability to capitalize on these contributions ultimately led to their downfall. With Gittens and Ralph-Beyer's combined 36 points, the team still fell short, as the offense was unable to muster enough support from other players to overcome the opposition.
A notable deviation from season averages was seen in the performance of Marist's supporting cast, with Jadin Collins-Roberts' rebounding and playmaking numbers significantly exceeding his norms, as his 11 rebounds and 5 assists marked substantial increases over his averages. In contrast, Rhyjon Blackwell's shooting struggles led to a 4-point outing, a significant drop from his 12.1 points per game average, with Blackwell's 2-13 field goal performance highlighting the challenges he faced. Meanwhile, Mekhi Conner's stat line fell short of his season averages, particularly in the assists category, where Conner's 2 assists were 4.1 fewer than his typical output, underscoring a tough night for Conner.
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Final
The pre-game prediction of a 13.4-point margin in favor of Marist proved to be surprisingly accurate, with the Red Foxes ultimately claiming a narrow 2-point victory. Despite Sacred Heart's valiant effort, the outcome was largely in line with expectations, suggesting that Marist's overall performance was consistent with what was anticipated.
A closer examination of the game's decisive factors reveals that Marist's improvement in three-point shooting, a 3.0 percentage point increase from its season average, was a significant contributor to its success. This boost in outside scoring allowed the Red Foxes to maintain a comfortable lead throughout the game. Additionally, Marist's rebounding performance, particularly on the defensive end, was a crucial factor, as the team's 12.8% OREB rate was a significant decrease from its season average, limiting Sacred Heart's second-chance opportunities and stifling the Pioneers' offense.
Marist's victory over Sacred Heart maintains their position as a MAAC conference tournament contender, with a chance to solidify their seeding in the upcoming conference tournament. The Red Foxes now hold a slight edge over other MAAC teams in terms of conference standings, positioning themselves for a potentially favorable draw in the tournament. With this win, Marist can look to build momentum heading into the conference tournament, where a strong performance could propel them to a higher seed and a more advantageous path to the championship. Sacred Heart, on the other hand, remains a long shot to win the conference tournament, and this loss further erodes their chances, making it a must-win situation for the remainder of their regular season schedule.