Behind 23 points from freshman guard Jay Gavin (Seat Pleasant, Md.) and an 18-point, 6-rebound effort from red-shirt senior guard Louie McCroskey (Bronx), the Marist men’s basketball team earned a 77-70 victory over Fairfield at the McCann Center on Jan. 13. The Red Foxes won their fifth straight as they improved to 11-6 overall and 5-1 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.
With his 23 points, Gavin tied his career high, set on Jan. 7 against Manhattan. He hit a career-high seven three-pointers in 11 attempts as he topped the 20-point plateau for the fourth consecutive game. In those four games, Gavin is 22-for-34 (.647) from three-point range. As a team, Marist hit a season-high 13 three-pointers, marking the third consecutive game the Red Foxes hit at least 10 three-pointers.
Red-shirt sophomore point guard David Devezin (Houston, Texas) had a career-high nine assists to go along with eight points and four rebounds.
The Red Foxes scored the first 10 points of the game, and Gavin’s first basket gave Marist an 18-4 lead with 13:46 left in the first half. The Red Foxes’ largest lead of the first half was 15, as another Gavin three-pointer put Marist up 35-20 with 4:15 remaining. However, Fairfield closed the half on a 13-0 run to cut Marist’s halftime advantage to two.
The Stags (5-10, 3-3) extended the run to 16-0 and took their first lead of the game on the first possession of the second half, as Anthony Johnson converted a three-point play. After the lead changed hands twice more, a tip-in by red-shirt senior forward Ryan Stilphen (Bay Village, Ohio) put Marist up 39-38 with 16:57 remaining, giving the Red Foxes the lead for good. Stilphen’s basket started Marist on a 10-0 run, and the Stags never got closer than four after that. Stilphen also led Marist with eight rebounds in the contest
Herbie Allen finished with 19 points to lead Fairfield, and Anthony Johnson had 16 points and nine rebounds. The Stags shot .422 from the field, and just .167 (3-for-18) from three-point range.
The five-game winning streak is the second for the Red Foxes this season, and the sixth for Marist in Matt Brady’s five years as head coach.
Marist will return to action on Jan. 17 with a road contest at conference rival Loyola, after the Beat’s press time.
Marist women stay unbeaten in MAAC
In a battle of MAAC unbeatens, it was the Marist women’s basketball team who came out on top on Jan. 13, defeating Manhattan 61-59 at Draddy Gymnasium. For the third straight game, Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) scored over 20 points for the Red Foxes, leading all scorers with 24 points. Marist is now 5-0 in MAAC play, 15-2 overall.
Marist put four players in double-figure scoring Sunday. Nikki Flores (Montvale, N.J.) scored 16 points, going 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the last 24 seconds. Meg Dahlman (Spencerport) scored 10 points and added six rebounds. Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) also scored 10 for the Red Foxes.
The Red Foxes and Lady Jaspers traded baskets to start the game, with an Allenspach three tying the game at 7-7 4:05 into the game. Manhattan jumped out to a 12-7 lead after a Nicole Harrison jumper. Marist got within one at 12-11 when Sarah Smrdel (Mentor, Ohio) split a pair at the free throw line. The Lady Jaspers took the momentum, getting out to a six-point lead, 17-11, on the strength of jumpers from Gabrielle Cottrell and Aubrie Dellinger. Marist responded with a 15-6 run to close the half, powered by six points from Fitz and four from Dahlman to take a 26-23 lead. The Red Foxes forced 16 Manhattan turnovers in the first half, turning them into seven points.
The second half started off well for the Red Foxes, as they jumped out to a 35-28 lead with 16:05 to go behind the frontcourt of Dahlman and Fitz who combined for six of Marist’s first nine points in the half. The Lady Jaspers went on a 14-6 run over the next 5:33. Two free throws by Cottrell capped the run, giving Manhattan a 42-41 lead with 10:38 to go. Marist scored the next five points on a Flores layup and an Allenspach three-pointer to take a 46-42 lead. Manhattan came back to tie it up on layups by Kelly Regan and Abby Wentworth.
The Red Foxes took the lead on five straight points, as a pair of free throws by Allenspach put Marist ahead 51-46 with 5:31 to go. Manhattan got within one with 4:39 to go on a Caitlin Flood layup, making the score 51-50 Marist. After a Dahlman layup put the Red Foxes ahead by three, Cottrell answered with a three-pointer to tie the game at 53-53 with 3:03 to go. Fitz then hit a layup set up by Allenspach, giving Marist a 55-53 lead.
Once again, Manhattan answered with a three-pointer, as Joann Nwafili gave the Lady Jaspers a 56-55 lead with 2:10 to go. Marist took the lead for good on a Fitz layup from Julianne Viani (Poughkeepsie) with 53 seconds left. Forced to foul to keep time to on the clock, Manhattan put Flores on the line twice in the last 24 seconds. Flores made four straight free throws to put Marist ahead 61-56 with 10 seconds remaining. On the ensuing inbounds, Cottrell took the ball the length of the floor and converted a layup while being fouled. Her free throw made the score 61-59. Manhattan would get a chance to tie with three-tenths of a second remaining, but the inbounds pass was deflected by Dahlman, giving Marist their fifth consecutive win.
The Red Foxes took sole possession of first place in the MAAC with the win. They shot 41.7 percent from the field, including a 50 percent mark in the second half. Marist shot 81.8 percent from the free-throw line, converting 18-of-22 chances. The Red Foxes held a 25-23 rebounding edge, converting 10 offensive rebounds into eight second-chance points. Marist also forced 22 Manhattan turnovers.
Manhattan (9-7, 4-1 MAAC) shot 54.8 percent from the field in the game. Caitlin Flood and Joann Nwafili led the Lady Jaspers with 13 points each. Flood added seven rebounds and seven assists, as Nwafili had five rebounds and five assists. Gabrielle Cottrell had 10 points for Manhattan.
Marist will conclude its current road swing on Friday, Jan. 18 at Iona. Tipoff in New Rochelle is at 5 p.m.