Dec 30, 2001
Box Score
WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) - Rick Smith had 19 points to lead five double digit
scorers as Marist beat Army, 71-58, Sunday afternoon.
Smith and Sean Kennedy fueled a 26-4 Marist run in the second half. The Red
Foxes (8-3) continued to expand their lead, building a 19-point cushion at
62-43 with 4:53 to play.
The win was the fourth consecutive for Marist over the Black Knights, as it captured the 11th Pepsi Hudson Valley Challenge Trophy, given to the victory of the lone Division I teams in the Hudson Valley. The Red Foxes, who lead the series 7-4, are the first to win four straight games, and have won twice at Christl Arena, the only two road wins of the series.
Army (5-5) got no closer than 10 points, 64-54 with 1:44 left, the rest of
the way. The Black Knights outrebounded the Red Foxes 39-28 for the game,
including a 24-16 lead in the opening 20 minutes.
Marist, which shot 27.4 percent from the floor in the first half, found its
rhythm after halftime by shooting 60.7 percent and making its final six
three-point shots.
Chris Spatola led Army with a game-high 21 points. Charles Woodruff added
15.
Nick Eppehimer finished with 13 points for Marist. Joining Smith in double
digit scoring were Dennis Young with 12 points and David Bennett and Kennedy
with 10 each.
Today's game was the final non-conference game of the season for the Red Foxes, as they finish that portion of the schedule at 6-3. For the first time since the 1999-2000 season, the Red Foxes captured two road non-conference games, defeating Army and Lafayette this season, and Army and Harvard two seasons ago.
The Red Foxes will return to action on January 2nd, when they travel to Jersey City, NJ, to take on St. Peter's. Marist resumes Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play, with the game tipping off at 7:30 pm, with a 2-0 league record, in first place.
