Feb. 8, 2007
Final Stats |
Press Conference (Courtesy: MCTV)
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.-Marist senior center James Smith (Nyack, N.Y.) knocked down one of two free throws with no time remaining to give the Red Foxes a 65-64 victory over Fairfield Thursday evening at the McCann Center. Marist improved to 18-7 overall and 10-4 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, while Fairfield dropped to 10-16 overall and 8-6 in the league. With the win, the Red Foxes took control of first place, a half game ahead of Manhattan (9-4) and Loyola (9-4).
Smith converted the charity toss after Fairfield's Marty O'Sullivan committed his fifth foul right before the final horn. After missing the first free throw, Smith connected on the second to send the McCann Center into frenzy. The big man finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.
Redshirt junior Ryan Stilphen (Bay Village, Ohio) tallied 18 points, while senior point guard Jared Jordan (Hartford, Conn.) had 13 points, six assists and four rebounds. Jordan, a Bob Cousy Award finalist, 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.
Fairfield's Michael Van Schaick led the Stags with a game-high 24 points, while Red Hook, N.Y. native Greg Nero had 13. Anthony Johnson also finished with 11 points, while Jonathan Han had 10. Johnson and Van Schaick also had five boards, while Han had six assists.
Fairfield outrebounded Marist 35-31, but dropped to 1-12 overall when scoring less than 65 points on the season.
The game began to take shape at the 17:08 mark of the second half when Stilphen converted a layup to give Marist an 11-point lead (40-29). However, the Stags roared back with a 15-3 run over the next 4:11 to take their first lead of the second half on a layup by Van Schaick at 44-43.
The game was neck and neck the rest of the way before O'Sullivan missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key, setting the stage for Smith's late-game heroics.
Marist made 45.1 percent (23-51) of its field goals, while Fairfield made 45.3 percent (24-53). Neither team shot well from the 3-point and free throw lines as Marist made 20.8 percent (5-24) from three and 58.3 percent (14-24) from the stripe. Fairfield made 25 percent from 3-point range (5-20) and just 64.7 percent (11-17) from the free throw line.
Marist will now turn its attention to a Sunday afternoon battle at 3:30 p.m. at Iona. The Gaels are 1-22 and 1-12 in the league.
