Jan. 5, 2007
Final Stats | Quotes
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.-Marist junior forward Shae McNamara (Milwaukee, Wisc.) tallied a season-high 14 points to lead the Red Foxes' men's basketball squad to a 71-55 wire-to-wire victory Friday evening at the James J. McCann Center. The Red Foxes improved to 11-4 overall and 3-1 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play, while the Broncs dropped to 8-6 overall and 2-2 in league.
Senior point guard Jared Jordan (Hartford, Conn.), the reigning MAAC Co-Player of the Week, also posted his fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 assists. The 6'2 guard 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. Backcourt mate Will Whittington (Kingwood, Tx.) had 12 points as well.
Redshirt junior Ryan Stilphen (Bay Village, Ohio) led the Red Foxes with nine rebounds.
Rider's Jason Thompson led the Broncs with a team-high 13 points and 10 boards. Harris Mansell and Terrance Mouton also entered double digits with 12. Mouton and Ryan Thompson had three assists apiece to lead the way for the visitors. Jason Thompson led the way defensively with three blocks.
The Red Foxes steadily increased their advantage in the first half and took their largest lead of the half (30-15) on a free throw by McNamara at the 7:53 mark. McNamara hit another layup with 14 seconds to go in the half to salvage a 38-26 halftime lead for the Red Foxes.
Marist continued to grow the lead in the second half and took its largest lead of the game (18, 48-30) on a 3-pointer by Whittington at the 16:22 mark. Rider did put forth a 10-0 run over the next three minutes, 18 seconds to cut the margin to eight on a 3-pointer by Mansell at the 13:04 mark. However, Marist pushed the advantage back out to 14 on two baskets by junior Wilfred Benjamin (St. Thomas Village Erin, Trinidad) and jumper from Whittington.
The Red Foxes shot 47.5 percent (29-61) on field goals, while Rider made 37.9 percent (22-58). Marist also won the 3-point battle, making seven of 21 attempts, while the Broncs made just four of 15 attempts. Finally, Marist made six of nine free throw attempts (66.7 percent), while Rider made seven of nine (77.8 percent).
Marist will now turn its attention to a Tuesday home date with Iona (0-12, 0-2 MAAC) at 7:30 p.m. in the McCann Center.
