POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Manhattan battled back to within three in the second half before Marist pulled away late in a 74-56 win for the Red Foxes.
The loss snaps the Jaspers' three-game winning streak.
Manhattan (14-12, 7-10 MAAC) trailed by 18 in the first half before battling back to within three, 50-47, on an
Ant Nelson layup with 7:49 to play. Marist (14-13, 9-9) closed the game on a 24-9 run.
The Jaspers opened the second half with eight straight points after
Elijah Buchanan hit a corner 3-pointer to bring Manhattan to within seven, 38-31, within the first three minutes of the half. Manhattan would then get the deficit to five twice before Nelson hit a jumper in the lane and the layup to get within three.
Richardo Wright put the Red Foxes back up five with two free throws out of the under-eight media timeout. Marist then used an 8-0 run to bring its lead back to double digits and a 5-0 spurt to stretch the advantage to 16. The Red Foxes went 23-30 from the free-throw line in the second half to keep and extend their lead.
Nelson finished with 15 points to lead the Jaspers.
Jose Perez added 14 while
Warren Williams finished with nine points and five rebounds.
Raheim Sullivan and Jao Ituka had 15 points to lead Marist. Two other Red Foxes were also in double figures.
Manhattan returns to action on Sunday against Fairfield. The Jaspers and Stags tip at 2 p.m. on ESPN+ inside Draddy Gymnasium.
