Jan. 17, 2003

BALTIMORE - David Bennett scored a game-high 20 points and Marist recovered from as much as a 13-point deficit in the first half as the Red Foxes defeated Loyola. 74-69, in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's basketball game played at Reitz Arena Friday night.

Marist (7-8, 3-3 MAAC), which defeated Loyola (3-11, 0-6 MAAC) for the eighth consecutive time, led by just one point, 68-67, after two Donovan Thomas free throws for the Greyhounds with two minutes remaining. But Carl Hood scored on a driving layup for the Red Foxes 14 seconds later to put his team up by three points, and Marist made four free throws in the final eight seconds to salt away the victory.

The Greyhounds, who were led by sophomore Lucious Jordan's 19 points, got off to a fast start, taking a 26-13 lead with 8:20 to go in the first half after two Thomas free throws. But the Red Foxes then scored 18 of the next 21 points over the next six minutes to take their first lead of the game, 31-29, on a Bennett layup with 2:31 to go in the half.

Marist then led by as many as 10 points, 46-36, with 16:39 to go in the game, but the Greyhounds then scored 12 consecutive points over the next four minutes to take a 48-46 lead on a Jordan length-of-the-court drive with 12:42 left. Loyola led as late as 62-61 after a Thomas three-point play with 4:49 left, but Nick Eppehimer hit a three-pointer for Marist on his team's next possession and the Red Foxes never trailed again.

Bernard Allen added 14 points and 12 rebounds for Loyola, which lost its fourth straight game. Thomas had a season-high 15 points, while DeLonnie Southall shot 5-for-7 from the field and had 11 points.

The Greyhounds shot just 11-for-19 from the free-throw line, including just 8-for-15 from the stripe in the second half.

Eppehimer added 19 points and six rebounds for Marist, which won at Reitz Arena for the fourth straight season. Brandon Ellerbee had 13 points for the Red Foxes, who shot 7-for-15 from three-point range.