A win on Friday would guarantee the Marist College men?s basketball team finishes this season out of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference?s cellar for the first time since 2013-14....
But, with the Red Foxes in the midst of, arguably, its hottest stretch in more than a decade, the team has its sights set even higher.
Marist has won its last four games ? the league's longest active streak ? with three of those victories coming against teams in the top four of the standings. In a pair of road games, the Red Foxes defeated first-place Quinnipiac on Friday, 63-61, and fourth-place Monmouth on Sunday, 75-67.
The Red Foxes improved to 12-14 overall and 7-7 in MAAC play; Marist has not been over .500 overall at any point since the 2007-08 season, the last time it finished with a winning record. Marist is on its fourth coach since that season, with coach John Dunne in his first at the helm. Marist already has its most wins since finished 14-18 in 2011-12.
Two of Marist?s last four games this season come against teams at the bottom of the MAAC s
Two of Marist?s last four games this season come against teams at the bottom of the MAAC standings, beginning with Saint Peter?s (6-19, 3-10) on Friday. A win against the Peacocks ? Dunne's former team ? would also give Marist its first five-game winning streak since that 2007-08 campaign.
Marist stands two games out of first-place, with Quinnipiac and Canisius each 9-5 in league play; Rider and Monmouth are 9-6.
Senior guard Brian Parker led Marist with 12 points and six assists against Quinnipiac, while sophomore guard Austin Williams provided 14 points and senior wing Ryan Funk scored 10. Marist turned the ball over just six times, and held Quinnipiac under 38-percent shooting. The Red Foxes overcame a 24-point effort from wing Cameron Young, a graduate student, won went on to score 55 points in a triple-overtime victory over Siena Sunday.
In Marist?s win at Monmouth Sunday, six Red Foxes had eight points or more, led again by Parker with 15, to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Freshman guard Darius Hines added 14 points, five assists and four rebounds, and senior wing Isaiah Lamb had 12 points and six rebounds. Marist held the Hawks to 29-percent shooting in the second half.
"I couldn't be more proud of these guys,? Dunne said, according to a statement from Marist. "We started both halves with great energy against a hard-playing Monmouth team."
Following Friday?s home game, Marist visits Siena on Sunday and Fairfield on March 1, before hosting Rider on Senior Day, on March 3. The MAAC tournament is scheduled for March 7-11 in Albany.
But, with the Red Foxes in the midst of, arguably, its hottest stretch in more than a decade, the team has its sights set even higher.
Marist has won its last four games ? the league's longest active streak ? with three of those victories coming against teams in the top four of the standings. In a pair of road games, the Red Foxes defeated first-place Quinnipiac on Friday, 63-61, and fourth-place Monmouth on Sunday, 75-67.
The Red Foxes improved to 12-14 overall and 7-7 in MAAC play; Marist has not been over .500 overall at any point since the 2007-08 season, the last time it finished with a winning record. Marist is on its fourth coach since that season, with coach John Dunne in his first at the helm. Marist already has its most wins since finished 14-18 in 2011-12.
Two of Marist?s last four games this season come against teams at the bottom of the MAAC s
Two of Marist?s last four games this season come against teams at the bottom of the MAAC standings, beginning with Saint Peter?s (6-19, 3-10) on Friday. A win against the Peacocks ? Dunne's former team ? would also give Marist its first five-game winning streak since that 2007-08 campaign.
Marist stands two games out of first-place, with Quinnipiac and Canisius each 9-5 in league play; Rider and Monmouth are 9-6.
Senior guard Brian Parker led Marist with 12 points and six assists against Quinnipiac, while sophomore guard Austin Williams provided 14 points and senior wing Ryan Funk scored 10. Marist turned the ball over just six times, and held Quinnipiac under 38-percent shooting. The Red Foxes overcame a 24-point effort from wing Cameron Young, a graduate student, won went on to score 55 points in a triple-overtime victory over Siena Sunday.
In Marist?s win at Monmouth Sunday, six Red Foxes had eight points or more, led again by Parker with 15, to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Freshman guard Darius Hines added 14 points, five assists and four rebounds, and senior wing Isaiah Lamb had 12 points and six rebounds. Marist held the Hawks to 29-percent shooting in the second half.
"I couldn't be more proud of these guys,? Dunne said, according to a statement from Marist. "We started both halves with great energy against a hard-playing Monmouth team."
Following Friday?s home game, Marist visits Siena on Sunday and Fairfield on March 1, before hosting Rider on Senior Day, on March 3. The MAAC tournament is scheduled for March 7-11 in Albany.
