Jan. 4, 2003

Box Score

Poughkeepsie, NY--A career-high 20 points from senior guard David Bennett was not enough for the Marist College men's basketball team, as it fell 81-73 to visiting Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Manhattan, this afternoon, in a game televised live by ESPN2. In a game which saw just one double-digit lead over the entire 40 minutes, the Red Foxes and Jaspers entertained a crowd of 2,845 at the McCann Center and nationwide.

Bennett was good on 6-9 from the field including 4-5 from behind the arc, to go along with four assists in 40 minutes. Dennis Young recorded his second double-double of the year, scoring 12 points and hauling in 10 boards, four of which came on the offensive glass. Sophomore Brandon Ellerbee nearly accomplished the same feat, as he credited 11 points and nine boards to the effort. Ellerbee also added a career-high six steals in the game.

Manhattan (8-3; 2-1) was led by the 27-point effort of Luis Flores and a 22-point effort from rookie Mike Konoelchick. The Jaspers shot a torrid 61.5 percent in the first half, and finished the game shooting 54.9 percent.

The Red Foxes (5-7; 1-2) led briefly in the first-half, 25-24 but could not maintain the advantage. Despite shooting nearly 20 percent less than the Jaspers in the first half, the Red Foxes trailed only by two at the intermission, 39-37.

The second half brought more of the same, with neither team giving an inch. The Red Foxes closed to within a point early in the half, before Manhattan expanded the lead to five points. Marist again closed it to a point, 47-46, before falling behind by six. Marist came witihin a point at 54-53 and within two points on an occasion with uynder four minutes to play, but could not get to a tie or the lead.