Dec. 12, 2010
Box Score
BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Marist men's basketball team dropped a 75-67 non-conference decision at defending America East champion Vermont on Sunday. Junior point guard R.J. Hall (East Orange, N.J.) finished with 13 points and a career-high nine assists against no turnovers in 39 minutes, and sophomore guard Sam Prescott (Philadelphia, Pa.) led the Red Foxes in points (14) and rebounds (eight).
Vermont held a 49-25 edge in rebounding, and the Catamounts had 21 offensive rebounds. Brian Voelkel paced Vermont with 23 points, 16 rebounds, five steals and three assists.
Vermont got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 11-2 lead just three-and-a-half minutes into the contest. However, the Red Foxes withstood the early charge, and when sophomore guard Candon Rusin (Surf City, N.C.) drained a three-pointer with 4:40 left in the first half, Marist had its first lead of the contest at 30-29. The Red Foxes trailed by one after a jumper by Vermont's Matt Glass, but Hall answered with a jumper with 26 seconds remaining in the half to allow Marist to take a 35-34 halftime advantage.
Marist expanded its lead to three early in the second half before a 9-1 Vermont run gave the Catamounts a 45-40 lead with 15:44 to play. Vermont maintained the lead until a three-pointer by freshman swingman Jay Bowie (Tampa, Fla.) tied the game at 53 apiece with 8:40 remaining. Each team scored on its next possession to make the score 55-55 with 8:02 to play, but a 9-0 Vermont run over the ensuing 3:36 gave the Catamounts the lead for good. A three-pointer by Prescott with 2:28 to go brought the Red Foxes within four, but they would draw no closer.
Marist shot .442 (23-for-52) for the game, .389 (7-for-18) from three-point range and .667 (14-for-21) from the free-throw line. Vermont shot .367 (22-for-60) from the field, .231 (3-for-13) from three-point range and .737 (28-for-38) from the free-throw line. In the second half, Marist was just 7-for-13 (.538) from the line, while Vermont was 22-for-24 (.917).
Marist fell to 2-9; Vermont improved to 7-2.
The Red Foxes will return to action next Sunday, when they host Holy Cross of the Patriot League at the McCann Center. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. For ticket information, contact the Marist Ticket Office at (845) 575-3553.
Notes: Hall's previous career high in assists was eight, set against Bucknell on Dec. 28, 2008. His 39 minutes were also a career high. ... Marist has led at halftime in each of its last five games. ... Today's game concluded a stretch of five games in 10 days for the Red Foxes, who also opened the season with six games in 12 days. Marist will play just twice in the next 21 days.
