POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist University men's basketball team earned a come-from-behind 65-63 win over Sacred Heart on Sunday at McCann Arena.
Justin Menard's three-pointer with 17.2 seconds remaining proved to be the difference as the Red Foxes came back from 10-point deficits in each half.
With the win, Marist clinched a bye into the quarterfinal round of the MAAC Championships.
- Sacred Heart scored the game's first five points, Marist scored the next seven, and the Sacred Heart answered with the next 11.
- Jade Slaughter's three-pointer gave Sacred Heart a 10-point lead at the 10:19 mark.
- Myles Parker's three tied the scored at 20, and Jadin Collins-Roberts' mid-range jumper put Marist in front at 6:25, which forced a Sacred Heart timeout. These plays were part of a 14-0 run that extended the Red Foxes' lead to five.
- Six straight points by Dashon Gittens gave Sacred Heart back a one-point lead. This was the first of three lead changes in 22 seconds.
- Nyle Ralph-Beyer's three at the 1:13 mark gave Sacred Heart a 36-33 lead, and accounted for the final points of the first half.
- An 8-0 run gave Sacred Heart a 10-point lead with 15:04 to go.
- The Red Foxes tied the game at 49 all with 10:02 to play on a transition layup by Collins-Roberts.
- Sacred Heart countered with a 7-0 run to take the lead back.
- Marist then answered with a 10-0 run of its own. Menard's three gave Marist a 57-56 lead, and his layup on the next possession put Marist up three.
- Sacred Heart scored the next four, with Anquan Hill's dunk giving the Pioneers a 60-59 with 1:35 to play.
- Hill's dunk was the first of four lead changes over the next 1:18. On the next possession, Parby Kabamba's three put Marist in front 62-60. Then Ralph-Beyer's three gave Sacred Heart a one-point lead with 30 seconds left. On Marist's next possession, Menard drilled the game-winner. The Red Foxes then held the Pioneers off the scoreboard on their final possession.
- Menard scored a game-high 22 points, including four threes.
- Parker added 15, going 5-for-7 from three, followed by Kabamba with 13.
- Collins-Roberts snagged a game-high 11 rebounds, and he dished out a game-high five assists.
- Marist committed just four turnovers, and the Red Foxes had 18 assists on 24 field goals.
- Ralph-Beyer led Sacred Heart with 21.
- Collins-Roberts tied his career high in rebounds.
- Parker set a career high with his five three-pointers made.
- Menard topped 20 points for the fourth time this season.
- Marist's four turnovers were a season low. It was the fewest the Red Foxes had in a game since Jan. 23, 2022 against Fairfield (three).
- Marist is now 17-1 when scoring at least 64 points in a game.
- This is Marist's first win of the season when shooting under 40 percent.
- This is the 17th time in head coach John Dunne's tenure that the Red Foxes overcame a double-digit deficit to win, including three times this season and both games against Sacred Heart.
- Marist improved to 18-10 overall and 12-7 in MAAC play.
- Sacred Heart is now 12-18 this season and 8-11 in conference play.
- Marist closes out the regular season on Sunday, March 1 against Saint Peter's at McCann Arena.
- Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
- The game will be broadcast on ESPNU, and will be preceded by a ceremony for Senior Day.
