So much for a preview

The Marist Red Foxes beat the Fairfield Stags last night 75-66 in Poughkeepsie, New York, largely off a career night by G Dejuan Goodwin, the co-top scorer for Marist, sharing that distinction with F Ryan Schneider. Both men were excellent from 3-point range, as Goodwin was 5 of 9 from deep, while the designated deep man Schneider hit 4 of 7 long balls. The Red Foxes jumped out to a 7-0 lead early in the game, and never reliquinished that initial lead.

As detailed in the broadcast of George Morris and myself for WMAR Marist Radio, rebounding was key. Starter G Kaylen Gregory grabbed a team-leading 10 boards as the Red Foxes outworked the Stags for a +18 rebound differental, going for 47 rebounds as compared to Fairfield's 29. This was the Red Foxes' best game rebounding since their January 15th battle against Siena.

Marist also gelled sharing the ball, dishing out 15 assists total, a top 5 performance on the year, best since their January 2nd game against Bucknell.

Marist never trailed in this game, albeit against a completely depleted Fairfield team that has lost three starters on the season, and lost a fourth before game time, as G Lyndon Jordan stayed in Fairfield for this trip due to illness. F Anthony Johnson has been deemed done for the season with an undisclosed medical condition, while F Warren Edney is also done for the season with a severely sprained ankle. G Jonathan Han, a member of the MAAC Preseason First Team, was suspended by the coaching staff five games ago for disiplinary reasons, and has forgone the rest of his season in lieu of returning to the team. As a senior, he has no further eligibility, so he will finish his colliegiate career with Fairfield.

Fairfield could not catch a break personnel-wise, as former starter F Greg Nero left the game after the first half. Nero has been coming off the bench due to a sore back, and shortly after returning to the court with his team at the end of halftime, he left the McCann Center. He returned a minute into the second half, in his team-issued sweatsuit, and did not return to action.

Despite all this, Fairfield forced 14 turnovers from the Red Foxes, while never committing a turnover themselves. Unfortunately for the Stags, some horrid shot selection put them on the fast track out of Poughkeepsie with a loss, only shooting 35.8% from the field while Marist shot an even 50%. Specifically for Fairfield, F Mike Evanovich went 2-13 from 3 point range, while hitting all five of his shots from inside the arch.

Fairfield does have much to look back at positively, though, specifically from their ironmen F Yorel Hawkins and G Herbie Allen, both of which played 37 minutes. Allen had a game high 21 points with 3 3-pointers, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, while Hawkins had 10 points, 5 boards, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.

For Marist, the big men asserted their dominance, a welcome change from their previous 8 game losing streak. They outscored Fairfield 28-14 in the paint, and 16-7 on second chance oppertunities. The three big men down low, F Korey Bauer, F Alex Vouyoukas, and F Lawrence Williams, combined for 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots in what has to be considered a solid effort inside.

Marist, now 8-19 with a 4-11 record in the MAAC, will go and face St. Peter's Monday, February 16th at 8 PM.

Fairfield, meanwhile, will have a quick turnaround. Now 15-11 with an 8-7 record in the MAAC, they return home for a Saturday, February 14th game against Niagara at 9 PM.

- Z.L.