Something about McCann Arena. For the second time this season, Marist men’s basketball won another overtime thriller on their home floor, this time over the University of Maryland Baltimore County 76-73. The 8-2 start is the Red Foxes’ best since 2006/07 and are now 4-0 in games decided by three points or less.
Marist’s (8-2, 2-0 MAAC) junior guard Elijah Lewis took the game into his own hands with clutch free throws and a game-clinching block in the final seconds. After eclipsing 1,000 career points against Stony Brook, Lewis finished with 17 points and a perfect 9-9 from the line.
“Elijah’s playing with a high level of confidence. He’s not afraid of the moment. He’s getting better and better every game,” said Marist head coach John Dunne.
With the Retrievers (7-7, 0-0 America East) shooting 41% from behind the arc, Marist needed some secondary scoring to come away with this win. Sophomore guard Jadin Collins-Roberts provided 14 points across 39 minutes. Sophomore guard Josh Pascarelli and redshirt freshman center Jason Schofield added 16 and 11 each.
“A good point guard knows that every game is different and [Jadin] takes what the defense gives him. [UMBC] was pressuring and denying us and the court was kind of open,” said Dunne.
Marist had a chance to win this game in regulation, but junior forward Jaden Daughtry made just 1-2 free throws trailing 70-69 with 1.6 seconds left. However, he came up huge on the glass with 16 rebounds and added five smooth assists, a career-high.
“Daughtry is a warrior, he [and Jadin are] the heart and soul of our defense. He’s a big piece of what we are trying to do with our toughness level, our rebounding. He’s growing as a player,” said Dunne.
The Red Foxes pounded the paint with 48 points, taking advantage of UMBC’s smaller lineups that leaves graduate student Josh Odunowo, listed at 6 feet 6 inches, to play center.
Both teams found their flow quickly on offense; Marist started 6-9 from the field, all inside the arc. UMBC started 4-7 from three-point range, three of which came from senior guard Marcus Banks Jr.
Junior forward Louie Jordan followed Banks by knocking down three three-pointers of his own. His third forced a Marist timeout with 8:07 left in the first half. The Red Foxes struggled to get out to shooters as UMBC’s small-ball lineups gave them issues.
“We were nervous they were going to play that lineup [with Jordan at center] more. They’re really talented,” said Dunne.
Collins-Roberts steadied Marist with eight first-half points but it was not enough to counter the Retrievers’ offense. UMBC senior guard Bryce Johnson scored in multiple ways to finish with 12 in the half.
Despite trailing, the Red Foxes held UMBC scoreless for the last 2:45, finishing on a 9-0 run with sophomore guard Josh Pascarelli draining a deep step-back 3-pointer at the buzzer. Pascarelli scored seven points in the last 1:30 of the half, tying the game at 39 going to break.
Dunne received a technical foul at the 6:46 mark of the first half, unhappy with a potentially missed offensive foul on UMBC. From there, Marist outscored the Retrievers 17-10, digging themselves out of a 37-27 hole in the final 4:26.
“I thought the team needed me to get fired up, I thought we were sleepwalking early. I was fine with getting the technical, I hadn’t gotten one in a few years,” said Dunne.
The Red Foxes carried that momentum into the second half but a small drought allowed UMBC to retake the lead with a Banks Jr 3-pointer to lead 53-50 with 12:10 left in the game.
Neither team created any separation in the second half, unlike the first half where each team had stretches of control.
The offense slowed for both teams with three-plus minute scoring droughts until Johnson converted free throws with 6:45 left. The Red Foxes’ scoring drought lasted over four minutes until Schofield converted a jump hook.
UMBC stayed hot from deep and nailed two more to lead by five at the under-four timeout. Johnson had 23 points with a ridiculous 8-10 shooting.
“They can score the ball. I was impressed with their energy level. I thought, quite frankly, they had the better energy for a lot of this game,” said Dunne.
Marist scored six points, headed by Collins-Roberts attacking the rim twice, tying the game at 67 with 1:03 remaining.
Banks Jr hit a huge 3-pointer out of the timeout with 37 seconds left. Lewis made two free throws to trail by one with 19 seconds left.
Marist forced a jump ball and retained possession with 10 seconds left trailing 70-69. On the final play, senior forward Jackson Price got his 3-point shot blocked but Daughtry picked up the loose change and was fouled in the process with 1.6 seconds left.
Daughtry split the pair, inducing the second overtime game at McCann Arena this season.
In the overtime period, UMBC scored the first three points but Schofield answered in the paint. Collins-Roberts then gave Marist a lead with a tough layup to lead 74-73.
“This game I saw the opening, they were switching a lot. Just staying composed and being able to know whether you’re passing or driving,” said Collins-Roberts.
With under a minute remaining, Marist got a key stop and forced UMBC to foul to stop the clock with the shot clock off. Collins-Roberts missed the front end but Johnson airballed a corner three with 12 seconds left.
Lewis calmly nailed two free throws along with the game-sealing block to secure the Red Foxes’ fourth straight win. Marist converted 15-20 free throws, above their season average of 67%, each counting that much more in such tight affairs.
“I told those guys, I don’t take for granted the years that I have really selfless players that care about one another. They deserve the record that they have,” said Dunne.
Marist rounds out their non-conference schedule with another in-state matchup with Binghampton on Sunday, Dec. 29. Tipoff at McCann Arena is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Edited by: Aidan Lavin
Photo/Graphic: Jaylen Rizzo
For more coverage of Marist athletics, follow @cfmarist on Instagram, X and TikTok, and sign up to receive daily alerts here
Will Center Field join Bluesky?