ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – It’s do-or-die time. This is March.
Marist faces off against Mount St. Mary’s Thursday, March 13 at 8:30 p.m. to round out the quarterfinal round of the MAAC basketball tournament.
The Red Foxes dropped to the No. 3 seed after losing their last four regular-season games, including a 62-52 loss to the Mount on March 8. Marist won 20 games for the fifth time in program history, but this recent slide puts them in danger of a first-round exit in Atlantic City.
Tale of the Tape
Photo via Kira Crutcher
Marist (20-9, 13-7 MAAC) and Mount St.Mary’s (19-12, 12-8 MAAC) split the regular season series with Marist winning 53-50 on Dec. 6 and Mount St. Mary’s winning 62-52 five days ago.
The Mountaineers average 71 points per game, while Marist averages 66.2. The Red Foxes allow the second best in the MAAC 64.6 points per game while the Mount allows 71.3.
Mount has four double-digit scorers, led by redshirt junior forward Dola Adebayo at 13.1 and sophomore guard Dallas Hobbs at 12.7. Senior forwards Terrel Ard Jr. and Jedy Cordilia both add 10 points per game.
For Marist, sophomore guard Josh Pascarelli averages 15.9 points per game on 46/41 shooting while junior guard Elijah Lewis scores 11.6 per game.
Stylistically, The Mount play a higher-paced game by a good margin and are not afraid to go up and down the floor. That is an area to watch: Which team can dictate the pace of the game?
Next, the turnover battle is extremely important. Neither team is great in offensive rebounds or free throw rate, so every possession matters. The Mount is worst in the MAAC in TO% on both ends of the floor, an area Marist should exploit to get extra possessions or create transition opportunities.
X-Factor
Photo via Jaylen Rizzo
What makes The Mount effective is their size, with three players grabbing seven rebounds per game and the versatility of ways to attack the paint. Adebayo can drive it, Cordilia can roll off screens to the rim and Ard Jr. can attack the glass and move in transition.
Unfortunately for Mount St. Mary’s, Ard Jr. has not played in three games and is potentially out for Thursday night. That is a big loss for The Mount, thinning their biggest strength and losing their sixth man.
Marist is first in the MAAC in defending 2-point shots, but The Mount depends on 3-pointers in their scoring more. That starts with sophomore guard Carmelo Pacheco, who shoots a red-hot 46% from deep. Last game, he left due to a finger injury in the first half. His status is unknown, but any limit to his availability is another advantage for Marist.
On the other side, senior center Jackson Price returned to the Marist lineup after missing eight games. He played just six minutes in the loss to Merrimack, but played 22 against The Mount and scored 13 points.
How much can Marist return to full form offensively in such little time? The answer can essentially indicate who wins this game. Price and Pascarelli working together is the most potent option in the Red Foxes’ offense, and Price’s return could help Pascarelli get out of a recent slump.
Pascarelli is 5-for-26 from behind the arc in his last three games. Most recently, his looks were decent and he could not convert. The reason for those looks being open? Price’s presence and because The Mount is worst in the MAAC in 3-point attempt rate allowed.
Marist freshman forward Tarik Watson missed the last game, suffering a lower leg injury in warmups. However, Price and redshirt freshman center Jason Schofield found success against the Mount, with both looking fully recovered from their injuries.
Tipoff at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. The winner takes on either Sacred Heart or Merrimack on Friday, March 14 at 8:30 p.m.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Graphic Cara Lacey; Photos from Marist Athletics
For more coverage of Marist athletics, follow @cfmarist on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Bluesky. Sign up to receive daily alerts here.