Team looks to end solid month with win against Niagara
Entering today?s regular-season finale, the members of the Marist College men?s basketball team like the way they?re headed.
Having won five of their eight games in February, including three of their last four, the Red Foxes host Niagara looking to cap a successful month.
?We made a commitment Feb. 1: ?Let?s get back to playing really good basketball at the end of the year, the month of February,? which these guys have been tremendous, lights-out in February,? said head coach Chuck Martin, adding his team needed a late-season boost after ?a really nice December? that was followed by ?an awful January.?
From beating a Loyola (Md.) team that was tied for first place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference at the time, to defeating rival Siena on Thursday after watching its 12-point, second-half lead disappear, Marist (6-11 MAAC) has shown progress in just the last 11 days, let alone the last month, Martin said.
?They?re starting to grow and develop right in front of your eyes,? the coach said. ?They understand composure a little better today, in February, than maybe a month ago.?
Niagara beat Marist 86-67 on Jan. 15, but a victory today against the Purple Eagles (13-17, 8-9) would give the Red Foxes momentum heading into the MAAC tournament.
Marist will begin the tournament in Springfield, Mass., as the No. 8 seed and will play No. 9 Saint Peter?s (5-24, 4-13) in an opening-round game on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Today?s game will be the last one in Poughkeepsie for guard R.J. Hall (3.8points per game), as well as team managers Robert Hoey and Edmond Penn, all of whom will be honored before the game as part of the Red Foxes? annual Senior Day festivities
Entering today?s regular-season finale, the members of the Marist College men?s basketball team like the way they?re headed.
Having won five of their eight games in February, including three of their last four, the Red Foxes host Niagara looking to cap a successful month.
?We made a commitment Feb. 1: ?Let?s get back to playing really good basketball at the end of the year, the month of February,? which these guys have been tremendous, lights-out in February,? said head coach Chuck Martin, adding his team needed a late-season boost after ?a really nice December? that was followed by ?an awful January.?
From beating a Loyola (Md.) team that was tied for first place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference at the time, to defeating rival Siena on Thursday after watching its 12-point, second-half lead disappear, Marist (6-11 MAAC) has shown progress in just the last 11 days, let alone the last month, Martin said.
?They?re starting to grow and develop right in front of your eyes,? the coach said. ?They understand composure a little better today, in February, than maybe a month ago.?
Niagara beat Marist 86-67 on Jan. 15, but a victory today against the Purple Eagles (13-17, 8-9) would give the Red Foxes momentum heading into the MAAC tournament.
Marist will begin the tournament in Springfield, Mass., as the No. 8 seed and will play No. 9 Saint Peter?s (5-24, 4-13) in an opening-round game on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Today?s game will be the last one in Poughkeepsie for guard R.J. Hall (3.8points per game), as well as team managers Robert Hoey and Edmond Penn, all of whom will be honored before the game as part of the Red Foxes? annual Senior Day festivities
