Jan. 13, 2006
Final Stats
ALBANY, N.Y.-Junior Will Whittington (Kingwood, Tx.) knocked down a career-high eight 3-pointers on his way to 30 points, leading the Marist men's basketball squad to an 85-77 victory over Siena at the Pepsi Arena Friday night. Marist improved its record to 7-6 overall and 1-4 in the league, while the Saints dropped to 7-6 and 2-3 in the league.
The Red Foxes nailed a season-high 15 3-pointers in the game and topped the Saints 31-30 on the glass, the fifth straight opponent the Red Foxes have outrebounded. Marist dominated bench play during the game, getting 20 from its reserves to Siena's two.
Whittington's eight 3's tied the school record set previously by Joey O'Connor against Loyola in the 1987-88 season and Manny Otero against Monmouth in the 1996-97 season.
The Red Foxes shot out to a quick six-point lead (12-6) 4:26 into the first half on a layup by sophomore Shae McNamara (Milwaukee, Wisc.), however the Saints knotted the score at 16 2:47 later when Kojo Mensah hit a layup at the 12:49 mark.
Marist took control of the first stanza after that, though, and ran off a 30-17 run over the balance of the half, taking a commanding 15-point lead on Whittington's fifth 3-pointer of the first half with 47 seconds left. Siena's Mousse Diop connected on a layup for the halftime margin of 46-33.
The Red Foxes shot 56.3 percent (18-for-32) in the first half, while Siena posted a 40 percent (12-for-30) mark. Much of the Red Foxes' fast start was attributed to a 52.9 percent (9-for-17) clip in 3-pointers and a 14-2 edge in bench points.
Whittington led all scorers with 17 first half points, while Siena's David Ryan had 10. Marist redshirt sophomore Ryan Stilphen (Bay Village, Ohio) had a game-high six rebounds at the break, while junior Jared Jordan (Hartford, Conn.) had seven assists. Mensah had a team-high five assists at the half.
Siena closed to within five points twice in the first part of the second half, before Marist blew it back out to a 15-point advantage (68-53) on another 3-pointer by Whittington at 9:42.
Siena chopped the Marist lead to four with 2:00 left on a layup by Mensah, but the Red Foxes were a perfect 9-for-9 from the stripe down the stretch to clinch the victory.
Stilphen finished the game with 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Red Foxes on the boards, while sophomore Ben Farmer (Clinton, Conn.) had 13 points and Jordan posted 10.
Jordan finished with a season-high 12 assists.
Siena put all five starters in double figures, led by Mensah's 20 and a team-high seven boards. He also finished the game with five assists.
Marist finished the game shooting 60 percent (30-for-60) from the field, a season high, while Siena finished at 44.4 percent (28-for-63). The Red Foxes nailed 57.7 percent of their 3-pointers (15-for-26), while Siena hit 8-for-20 (40 percent). The Red Foxes also hit 83.3 percent (10-for-12) from the stripe, while the Saints connected on 65 percent (13-for-20).
The Red Foxes will hit the road Sunday for a 2 p.m. game against Rider in Lawrenceville, N.J. The Broncs, who are 0-5 in the MAAC this season, swept the season series between the two teams this season.
