Marist men’s basketball surrendered an eight-point halftime lead to see their win streak snapped in a 69-60 road loss to Saint Peter’s. Four players, two on each team, fouled out in the second half, with total of 50 foul calls coming in a physical game.
Sophomore forward Corey Washington led the Peacocks with 19 points while three others reached double-digits. Saint Peter’s locked down on defense, holding Marist to 33 percent shooting from the floor and forcing 13 turnovers.
Marist lost their leading scorer, sophomore center Max Allen II, to an injury during warmups, so junior forward Jackson Price slid into the starting lineup and led the Red Foxes with 12 points. Sophomore forward Jaden Daughtry tallied a career-high 16 rebounds while adding nine points.
The two best defenses in the MAAC faced off for the second time this season. The Peacocks have rattled off three straight wins since Washington returned to the lineup; the preseason All-MAAC third-team selection has averaged 24 points and eight rebounds during the win streak.
The Red Foxes are also hot, having won five in a row before today’s contest, which started with a home victory over Saint Peter’s back on Feb. 4.
After a 6-0 Marist run, sophomore guard Brent Bland drained two three-pointers to tie the game at 11 with 11:56 left in the first half. The Peacocks then initiated a full-court press which prevented Marist from developing an offensive rhythm.
The Red Foxes adjusted by hitting shots out of the press and remaining patient, drawing fouls and converting from the free throw line with nine makes. Saint Peter’s continued their hot shooting from behind the arc, with junior guard Marcus Randolph nailing a pair of 3-pointers.
Senior guard Kam Farris finished a back door cut as the Red Foxes led 33-26 with 2:11 remaining in the first half, prompting Peacocks head coach Bashir Mason to call a timeout.
Freshman guard Josh Pascarelli swished his second 3-pointer to give Marist their largest lead yet at halftime, 38-30. Washington played only nine minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, yet finished with seven points heading into the break. Both teams knocked down five 3-pointers in the half, but Marist scored six more points from the free-throw line and limited Saint Peter’s to one offensive rebound.
The Peacocks again struggled to defend without fouling and accrued five team fouls in the first five minutes of the second half. Price knocked down four free throws, and Pascarelli hit another three-pointer to open a double-digit lead for the Red Foxes.
Senior guard Roy Clarke sustained Saint Peter’s offense with aggressive drives to the rim. The Brooklyn native reached 12 points with his second and-one bucket of the second half.
From there, things started to shift: a 14-4 Peacocks run brought the game within three points and forced a Marist timeout with their lead dwindling at the 9:33 mark of the second half. Saint Peter’s drew fouls and attacked the offensive glass while preventing Marist from scoring over a four-minute span.
Play slowed to a crawl in the back portion of the second half, with physicality resulting in numerous foul calls. A missed free throw from Daughtry led to tempers flaring on the ensuing rebound and technical fouls were assessed to Marist graduate student forward Javon Cooley and Washington.
Saint Peter’s then scored eight straight to take their first lead since the 7:15 mark of the first half. Washington hit a stepback three while drawing a foul in the process to put the Peacocks up by five with 3:23 remaining in the game.
Ultimately, the Peacocks did not look back as they secured their fourth straight win while holding Marist to just four made baskets in the second half. The Peacocks scored 18 points from free throws in a whistled-filled second frame. Senior guard Latrell Reid reached 10 points and seven assists to close the game out for St. Peter’s.
The Red Foxes’ offense stalled as St. Peter’s press and zone defense caused problems. Marist did not score a field goal for the final 8:28 of the game.
Marist returns home in a nationally televised matchup on ESPNU with the Fairfield Stags on Friday, Mar. 1. Tipoff at McCann Arena is set for 7 p.m.
Edited by Luke Sassa
Graphic by Cara Lacey; Photo from Jaylen Rizzo
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