LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Marist Men's Basketball team fell to the second-ranked University of Kentucky by a score of 108-58 in Friday evening's matchup at Rupp Arena. The Red Foxes fought hard throughout and trailed the Wildcats by just nine points at 45-36 at the halftime break. Freshman Isaiah Morton (Richland, N.J.) led Marist in his collegiate debut with 13 points.

Found themselves down quickly to the Wildcats 4-0 within the first 57 seconds, but redshirt-junior Dorvell Carter (Bronx, N.Y.) got the Red Foxes on the scoreboard with a successful three-point attempt 1:26 in. Following a Michael Kidd-Gilchrist jumper, Carter converted two free throws to keep Marist within one point of Kentucky at 6-5 at 17:46.

Over the next four minutes leading into the first media timeout at 13:30, the Red Foxes would do more than keep the game close, they would in fact take the lead 18-17. Five consecutive made shots, including a trio of three pointers, by sophomore Jay Bowie (Tampa, Fla.), Morton and Carter, would spearhead Marist's attack.

The fast-pace up and down game continued throughout the remainder of the first half as the Red Foxes battled to stay close with the Wildcats. Over the next 6:27, Marist would be led by four points a piece by senior R.J. Hall (Bloomfield, N.J.) and freshman Chavaughn Lewis (Queens, N.Y.). At the under-eight timeout, Kentucky had just a 32-26 lead.

In the next 4:06 of play, the score would stay within a four to six point range as the teams would trade baskets. Marist's offense saw four different players convert from the field: Bowie, Morton, Lewis and sophomore Adam Kemp (Sherrill, N.Y.).

Kentucky closed the half on a 5-2 run to end the first period with 45-36 lead.

At the half, Marist was shooting 14-28 from the field for 50 percent and five of eight from three point range. The Red Foxes held a 10-7 advantage in bench scoring.

The second half saw Kentucky show why they were chosen as the preseason favorite in the SEC. The Wildcats stretched their nine point halftime lead to 30 with a 27-6 run over the first 7:54 of play.

Freshman Kentucky center Anthony Davis, a preseason AP All-American Honorable Mention honoree, came up large for the Wildcats in the second half as he scored 13 points and blocked five Marist shots to lead the team as they increased their advantage throughout.

Down the stretch, six Red Foxes scored with freshman Manny Thomas (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Carter each adding four points.

In the second half, Kentucky outscored Marist 63-22 on the strength of 65.9 shooting from the floor.

After 40 minutes of action, the game went final with the second-ranked Wildcats taking the win with a 108-58 decision.

For the game, Morton led Marist in his collegiate debut with 13 points on a 6-11 shooting performance from the field and 1-4 from beyond the arc. Carter joined the freshman point guard, as the second Red Fox in double digits, as he scored 12 points on a 4-12 shooting with two three pointers and two foul shots. Bowie led the Red Foxes with six rebounds and three assists.

10 of the 11 players, who appeared for Marist registered points.

With this defeat, the Red Foxes fall to 0-5 all-time versus SEC foes.

Marist will next be in action on Monday, Nov. 14 when they travel to the University of South Florida in a second game of the 2011 Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic. The game, which will be hosted at the St. Pete Times Forum will begin at 7 p.m.