Jan. 23, 2007
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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.-The Marist men's basketball squad used a stout defensive effort to hold off a tough Saint Peter's squad 67-58 Tuesday evening in a wire-to-wire victory at the McCann Center. Marist improved to 15-5 overall and 7-2 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play, while Saint Peter's dropped to 3-16 overall and 1-8 in the MAAC.
With the win, Marist collected its eight consecutive home game of the season.
Marist senior Will Whittington (Kingwood, Tx.), who played in his 100th game Tuesday, notched 18 points on 4-for-8 shooting from 3-point range with five rebounds. Whittington now has a school record 302 career 3-pointers.
Backcourt mate Jared Jordan (Hartford, Conn.) had seven points, six rebounds and 11 assists. Jordan is also one of just two players in the nation currently leading his team in points, rebounds and assists (Jamont Gordon-Mississippi State). He is bidding to become the first player in Division I history since Southern University's Avery Johnson to lead the nation in assists twice. Johnson averaged 10.74 during the 1986-87 season and 13.3 the following season.
Senior center James Smith (Nyack, N.Y.) had 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds, while redshirt junior Ryan Stilphen (Bay Village, Ohio) had 10 points. The Red Foxes outrebounded Saint Peter's 33-30.
Saint Peter's was led by Akeem Gooding's 22 points, while Brandon Brock (12), Kevin Spann (11) and Todd Sowell (11) all hit double digits. Brock led the Peacocks with eight rebounds. He also went 8-8 from the free throw line. Spann had a team-high three assists.
Marist jumped early on the Peacocks, going up by as much as 21 points (27-6) on a jumper by redshirt sophomore Kaylen Gregory (St. Thomas, V.I.).
Saint Peter's came roaring back in the second half, gradually trimming the Marist lead the entire second half until it got within five (51-46) on a free throw by Sowell with 6:04 to play. However, Jordan notched a 3-point play on the next possession to keep the Peacocks at bay for the balance of the contest.
Marist connected on 47.1 percent from the field (24-51), while Saint Peter's made 43.8 percent (21-48) of its field goals. The Red Foxes made six of 22 3-point attempts (27.3 percent), while the Peacocks also made 27.3 percent (3-11). Marist continued to struggle from the free throw line, making just 13 of 22 free throws (59.1), while Saint Peter's made 81.3 percent (13-16).
The Red Foxes will now face Niagara (10-10 overall, 5-4 MAAC) Friday evening in the second half of a doubleheader that also features the Marist-Siena women's game at 5 p.m.
