POUGHKEEPSIE, New York: The Marist men's basketball team were unable to overcome a strong second half from Niagara and fell 86-70 at McCann Arena Sunday afternoon. The Red Foxes fall to 3-12 overall and 1-2 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Play. The Purple Eagles improve to 9-8 and 2-2 in conference play.
 
GAME SUMMARY
The Red Foxes took an 18-10 lead early in the first half. Niagara went on a 9-0 run to give them a 32-29 lead with 4:26 left in the game. Ryan Funk ended Niagara's scoring run with a dunk off a back-door pass from Aleksandar Dozic. On Marist's following possession, Brian Parker's jumper gave the Red Foxes the lead back. Niagara's Matt Scott would hit a buzzer-beating three to cut Marist's lead to 41-40 entering the break.
 
In the new half, Niagara took a 46-43 lead two minutes into the second half. Battling back, Marist scored nine consecutive points to reclaim the lead. Niagara took control of the game, going on a 15-0 run and holding the Red Foxes scoreless for five minutes and without a field goal for nearly 10 minutes and would hold a double-digit lead throughout the rest of the game.
 
KEY STATS

• Brian Parker led the Red Foxes with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists.
• Ryan Funk and Isaiah Lamb were the other Red Foxes to score in double digits, both scoring 10 points.
• The Purple Eagles took advantage of scoring off turnovers, scoring 19 points off 15 turnovers compared to Marist's eight points off seven turnovers.
• Matt Scott led Niagara with 23 points and 15 rebounds

GAME NOTES

• Brian Parker moves into 20^th in career scoring with 1,132 points.
• Connor McClenaghan scored a season high four points and matched his season high with two blocks.

QUOTE
"Very disappointing for us on the heels of what I thought were two great games to open league play." – Head coach Mike Maker.
 
UP NEXT
Marist travels to Quinnipiac for its first road conference game of the season on Wednesday, Jan. 10. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.