Dec. 30, 2006
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Pepsi Marist Classic Photo Gallery
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.-Marist senior point guard Jared Jordan (Hartford, Conn.) posted 13 point, eight assist performance while leading the Red Foxes to a 71-56 wire-to-wire victory over Central Arkansas Saturday in the championship game of the Pepsi Marist Classic. This was the first time since the 2001-02 season that Marist captured the Pepsi Classic title and 10th for the program overall.
Senior center James Smith (Nyack, N.Y.) powered the Red Foxes with a 16 point, nine rebound performance, while redshirt junior Ryan Stilphen tossed in 15 points. Senior guard Will Whittington (Kingwood, Tx.) also finished with 14 points. Jordan and Whittington also surpassed 1,200 points for their career.
Smith and Whittington were also named to the All-Tournament team, while Marcus Pillow (Central Arkansas), Donald Brown (Bucknell) and Mike McKinney (Northern Illinois) were also honored.
Frederick Campbell and Durrell Nevels had 12 points apiece to lead Central Arkansas, while Nevels led the Bears with seven rebounds and three blocks. Pillow chipped in four assists.
The Red Foxes jumped out to an 11-point lead (19-8) in the first half on a 3-pointer by junior Shae McNamara (Milwaukee, Wisc.) at the 8:49 mark. The Bears responded with a 12-1 run over the next four minutes, 16 seconds to close the gap to two (22-20) on a free throw by DaMarcus Bell at the 4:33 mark. Junior forward Ben Farmer (Clinton, Conn.), Marist's all-time leader in 3-point percentage, wiped away a shot attempt by UCA's LeMar Phillips just before the halftime horn to secure a 30-22 halftime margin for the home team.
The second half was more of the same for Marist as the Red Foxes grew the lead to as many as 24 (70-46), the last time on a free throw by Whittington at the 5:34 mark.
Marist finished 44.2 percent (23-52) from the field, while the Bears shot 41.5 percent (22-53). The Red Foxes made 52.4 percent of their 3-pointers, while UCA made just three of 18 attempts (16.7 percent). The Red Foxes improved on their shooting at the lines, making 73.7 percent (14-19), while the Bears made nine of 14 (64.3 percent) at the line.
The Red Foxes will face Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foe Loyola (5-6) Tuesday at 7 p.m.
