Dec. 7, 2010
Box Score
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Despite career highs in points and rebounds from red-shirt freshman forward Menelik Watson (Manchester, England), the Marist men's basketball team suffered a 64-48 loss to Rutgers of the Big East Conference on Tuesday at the Louis Brown Athletic Center. The Red Foxes led by as much as eight in the second half, but a subsequent 11-0 Rutgers run gave the Scarlet Knights the lead for good.
Watson finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, and hit all seven of his free-throw attempts. Sophomore guard Sam Prescott (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored 11 points, tied Watson for the team-high with eight rebounds, and also had two blocked shots, a steal and an assist.
Marist got off to a slow start, and trailed by nine on two occasions in the first half. With 7:38 left until the intermission , a three-pointer by sophomore guard Candon Rusin (Surf City, N.C.) started the Red Foxes on a 20-5 run to close the half, as they took a 27-21 lead into the locker room.
With 17:00 to play, a three-point play by Watson gave Marist its largest lead of eight at 33-25. However, the Red Foxes endured a scoreless drought of 4:57 as the Scarlet Knights took a lead they would not surrender for the rest of the contest.
Two free throws by red-shirt sophomore Dorvell Carter (Bronx, N.Y.) brought the Red Foxes to within one at 38-37 with 11:08 to play. Rutgers answered with an 8-0 run over the next 3:27 to expand its lead, and added a 9-0 run in the closing minutes to put the game away.
Marist shot just .277 (13-for-47) from the field for the game, and just .200 (5-for-25) in the second half. The Red Foxes did shoot .941 from the free-throw line, hitting 16 of their 17 attempts. Marist held Rutgers to .290 shooting (9-for-31) in the first half, but the Scarlet Knights shot.552 (16-for-29) in the second half. Marist was outrebounded 41-32, and committed 21 turnovers to Rutgers' 14.
Marist will return home to face defending Patriot League champion Lehigh on Friday. Tip-off between the Mountain Hawks and Red Foxes at the McCann Center is set for 7:30 p.m. For further information on tickets, contact the Marist Ticket Office at (845) 575-3553.
