Marist men’s basketball (7-3) came into South Bend for the third time in history to face off against a struggling Notre Dame Fighting Irish team (5-7) on a three-game losing streak, including a standout 20-point loss to the Citadel on December 19.
While Marist’s stellar defense held the Irish to 24 points in the first half with a one-point lead, the Red Foxes failed to capitalize on impressive offensive runs, losing possession in the final minute to give Notre Dame a much-needed 60-56 win.
Marist wasted no time getting off to a quick start, banking off quick guard play to maintain a lead for the first five minutes. Sophomore center Max Allen II led scoring for the Red Foxes (14) and made the second three-point ball of his Marist career to get Marist up for three to maintain some space while getting to the line on the next possession.
Just as Marist suspected, freshman guard Markus Burton got to work after the first media timeout. The sixth-best scoring freshman in the nation, the Fighting Irish clearly channeled their possessions through Burton, with 21 points on 8-for-18 shooting with four steals.
“We’re all talking to each other,” said Burton. This is one of the first times that we were speaking instead of just being quiet waiting for Coach to say something.”
Missed free throws became a pressing problem for the Red Foxes. After a 6-0 run from the Irish in five minutes, sophomore forward Jaden Daughtry got to the line for an opportunity to take the lead, but two bad rolls resulted in two missed free throws, continuing scoring woes for both teams.
With 7:51 left in the first half, Marist maintained a 16-15 lead but failed to get any space going 1-to-4 on free throws. With limited minutes in last game, Marist attempted to generate offense through Allen, but double teams in the paint held the center from effect post moves and limited Marist rebounds, outrebounded 32-25 by Notre Dame.
Notre Dame continued to look for offense, but Marist continued their pest-like defense.
With struggles on offense beyond Burton in the second half (5-for-11 shooting in the first half), junior guard J.R. Konieczny, who led Notre Dame in points against The Citadel, buried his first shot of the second half to continue to give Notre Dame increasing momentum.
A crucial player for the Red Foxes in the first half, Allen took a hard fall on his left knee, forcing the leading scorer to exit momentarily while Burton continued to climb the points ladder, with 18 at the 14-minute mark. Allen had an immediate scoring presence when he reentered, with consecutive buckets to keep Marist within seven. Stringing together offensive possessions. A bank three from Booth, the only other double digit scorer of the night for the Irish for a 41-33 lead.
Tragedy struck for Marist, as graduate student forward Javon Cooley made contact after a screen with and received a flagrant two and a corresponding ejection from the game. After making the free throws, the Irish gained a 10-point lead as Marist’s offense dwindled.
The ejection didn’t falter Marist, cutting the lead to three with an emphatic layup and foul from freshman guard Jadin Collins, who finished with 12 points and five assists. Immediately, the contest became a game of offensive runs, with another 8-0 run from the Irish giving them a 51-42 lead.
In the blink of an eye with three minutes left, Marist took advantage of the slow tempo, with sloppy turnovers by the Irish giving marist fast break points to cut the lead to four.
In the final two minutes, junior guard Noah Harris caught fire, hitting three three-point shots in the second half, including a deep shot to get the Red Foxes within two points.
Despite the best efforts from Collins and Harris, costly turnovers ended Marist’s chances to get the best of the Fighting Irish for the first time in program history.
“You got to be mentally tough,” said Collins.” So [Dunne] repeats that to me… [the coaching staff] keep pounding in our heads to be mentally tough. I believe we all are and, you know, it’s just repetition honestly.”
After an emotional press conference after the Citadel loss–including an apology to the fans for his own players’ efforts–Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry felt relieved for his program after snapping the three-game losing streak.
“Losing would’ve really sucked,” said Shrewsberry. “This win helps reinforce [the foundation]. Coming in with the joy that you come into the building with the reason why we’re doing certain things helps you in that area.”
For Dunne’s best start to the season, the Red Foxes away with a close loss against Notre Dame, but an impressive 7-3 start for the first third of the season.
“I think Notre Dame came out spirited and played really hard. And I think we matched it, their intensity,” said Dunne. “We’re not the finished product. We’re not even close to where we want to be in March. We got a long way to go but I’m really enjoying this team.”
With the loss, Marist heads back to the McCann Center for a chance to end the non-conference season on a win against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks, December 30 at 2 p.m.
Edited by Jimmy Tsiantoulas
Photo from Marist Athletics, Graphic by Ben Monrad
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