POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist men's basketball team clinched a first-round bye in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships and a winning season with a 76-67 triumph over Quinnipiac at McCann Arena on Sunday.
- There were four lead changes in the game's first six-and-a-half minutes.
- A three-point play by Jordan Jones at the 11:20 mark staked Marist to a 15-9 lead, and capped a 7-0 run for the Red Foxes.
- A layup by Raheim Sullivan, set up by Henry Makeny, staked Marist to a 19-10 advantage at the 9:33 mark. However, Quinnipiac responded with a 7-0 run of its own.
- The Red Foxes used a 6-0 run late in the first half to expand their lead to double digits, and Marist took a 38-27 advantage to the locker room.
- Ricardo Wright hit three three-pointers in a span of 1:33, and Marist's lead ballooned a game-high 18 points (48-30) with 17:39 remaining.
- Four Quinnipiac three-pointers in a span of four minutes enabled the Bobcats to go on a 14-4 run, which shaved Marist's lead to three with 6:54 to go.
- On consecutive possessions, Matt Herasme drained a three-pointer and converted a layup, which extended Marist's lead to seven.
- Marist's led by at least five for the final five minutes. The Red Foxes sealed the victory by going 6-for-8 from the free-throw line in the game's final minute.
- Wright led three Marist scorers in double figures with 13 points. Jones and Sullivan added 10 apiece. All nine Red Foxes who played scored, with seven having at least eight.
- Braden Bell led the team with nine rebounds, followed by Wright and Herasme with seven.
- Marist shot 24-for-54 (.444) from the field, while Quinnipiac shot .328 (21-for-64). The Red Foxes shot .560 (14-for-25) on two-point attempts, while the Bobcats shot .304 (7-for-23).
- Quinnipiac's Jacob Rigoni led all scorers with 23 points. Rigoni shot 7-for-12 from three-point range.
- The Bobcats' Luis Kortright had 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
- Both teams had only nine turnovers.
- This is the first time Marist has earned a first-round bye in the MAAC Championships since the 2007-08.
- This is Marist's first winning season since 2007-08.
- Marist's 76 points tied a season high previously set on Jan. 23 at Rider.
- Today's result clinches Marist's best finish in the MAAC since 2007.
- Bell's nine rebounds were a career high.
- Henry Makeny set a career high with eight points. Makeny shot 3-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point range.
"I couldn't be more proud of the guys," Marist head coach
John Dunne said. "We've persevered through a lot this year. Obviously, across the country, everyone has persevered. We've withstood three season-ending injuries … and to clinch a winning the season, I couldn't be more proud of the players and my staff."
- Quinnipiac is 8-10 overall, and 6-8 in the MAAC.
- Marist is now 11-8 on the season, and 9-8 in conference play.
- Marist closes out the regular season against Quinnipiac on Monday at McCann Arena. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
- Dean Darling (play-by-play) and Steve Eggink (analyst) will have the call on ESPN+.
