POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - In their home opener at the newly-renovated McCann Arena, the Marist men's basketball team (1-4) lost a tight matchup with the defending Patriot League Champion Bucknell (2-2) by a score of 74-68. Though down for the final 30 minutes of the contest, the Red Foxes fought hard throughout and were led by a 16 point, 6 rebound and 2 block effort from sophomore Adam Kemp (Sherrill, N.Y.).
Kemp was a source of offense for the Red Foxes from the beginning of play as he scored the team's first six points of game over a 4:34 span of play. Following Kemp's hot start, the Red Foxes went 3-6 on their next six possessions with all three made baskets coming from behind the three point line. Guards Isaiah Morton (Richland, N.J.), Devin Price (Inglewood, Calif.) and T.J. Curry (Brooklyn, N.Y.) all converted as Marist held a 15-13 lead with 10:31 remaining in the first half.
A 9-4 run over the next 3:08, gave the Bison their first two possession lead of the game. Up 24-19, Bucknell closed the 7:04 of the half by outscoring Marist 16-9 to make score at half 40-28. Sophomore Jay Bowie (Tampa, Fla.) (5) and Kemp (4) scored the points for the Red Foxes down the stretch.
At the break, Kemp led all scorers in the game with 12 points on six of eight shooting from the field. As a team, Marist trailed Bucknell in field goal percentage 58.1 (18-31) to 48.0 (12-25).
Coming out of halftime down 12, the Red Foxes were in a see-saw battle with the Bison as their deficit bubbled to as much as 15, but as low as 10 over the first five minutes of play.
One aspect of the Red Foxes' game that was working effectively to start the half was their three-point shooting. From the 18:21 mark through 11:57, each and every one of their field goal attempts were from distance. During this span they shot six of 10 and eventually cut the lead down to eight points. The sharpshooters from the first half, Morton, Price and Curry, were credited with five of the successful baskets. Freshman Manny Thomas was the fourth player with a trey, the first of his young collegiate career.
Down eight at 54-46 with 11:57 left to go, the Red Foxes were not able to decrease their deficit lower than seven until a Thomas trifecta at 4:34 brought the game to six at 67-61. Each team scored seven points a piece down the stretch, as Bucknell held on for a 74-68 victory.
For the game, Marist was outshot by Bucknell 53.2 percent (33-62) to 46.0 (23-50), but held an advantage in three point field goal percentage at 44.0 (11-25) to 33.3 (4-12).
Individually, Bucknell's Mike Muscala, the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year led all scorers with 17 points on eight of 18 shooting from the field. Kemp led three Red Foxes in double figures with 16 total points. The starting backcourt of Morton and Price contributed 14 and 11 points, respectively. Kemp also corralled a team-high six rebounds. Multiple successful drives and kick-outs allowed wings, Anell Alexis (Hillsborough, N.J.) and Chavaughn Lewis (Queens, N.Y.) to lead the team with career-high assist totals of four each.
The Red Foxes will next be in action on Saturday, Nov. 26 when they host Colgate in a non-conference matchup at McCann Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
