POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The
Marist men's basketball team (7-12, 2-6 MAAC) fell at home to Manhattan (13-7,
6-2 MAAC) on Friday night at the McCann Arena by a score of 61-44. Freshman
Chavaughn Lewis (Queens, N.Y.) led the team offensively with 11 points.
The game began with a distinct Marist feel to it as the Red Foxes
went down the court on their first two possessions and knocked down consecutive
three pointers. Red-shirt sophomore Anell Alexis (Hillsborough, N.J.) netted
the first trey and sophomore Jay Bowie (Tampa, Fla.) the second.
Manhattan fought back over the next four plus minutes to
keep the game close and eventually took its first lead at the 13:48 mark at
10-9. A successful Lewis three-pointer less than a minute later tied the game
up at 12-12 and kick started a 9-2 Red Fox run that concluded at 9:30 with the
team in the lead 18-14.
The teams swapped the lead five more times until the Jaspers
took a 25-23 advantage at 5:24 in the first half. From the point on, Manhattan
continued to slowly extend the margin.
At the half the score was Manhattan 33 - Marist 26. The Red
Foxes were led by Alexis' eight points and Lewis' seven. Overall, the Jaspers
shot 52.0 percent (13-25) from the field in comparison to the Red Foxes' 33.3
(10-30), but Marist stayed close due to their five made three-pointers.
In the second half, the Red Foxes were able to cut
significantly into the Jaspers field goal shooting success, down to 35.7
percent on 10 of 28 from the field. Unfortunately for Marist, its normally
potent offensive, which came in averaging 71.0 points per game was held to just
18 in the second stanza.
Lewis' fearless attacking of the rim and consequential free
throw opportunities gave Marist a few chances to pull the game within
single-digits in the second half. With 5:48, the Red Foxes trailed by a 49-39
margin.
After 40 minutes of game action, the Jaspers earned the road
victory by a final score of 61-44.
For the game, Lewis finished with 11 points, three rebounds,
three steals and four blocks. He was joined in double figures by Alexis, who netted
10 points, as well as six rebounds. Sophomore Adam Kemp (Sherrill, N.Y.) finished
with 11 rebounds, his third game in his last four with double-figures.
Marist will be next be in action on Sunday, Jan. 22 when it
hosts Fairfield in a 2 p.m. game at McCann Arena.
