The Quinnipiac men’s basketball team (15-8, 10-4 MAAC) defeated the Marist College Red Foxes (9-15, 6-8 MAAC) on Monday by a final score of 83-79. This was the team’s third straight win in their first matchup against Marist this season.
Bobcats head coach Tom Moore was not happy with the way his team played on Monday night.
“Overall I really wasn’t pleased with our energy,” he said. “I guess we played enough defense in the second half to get a lead. Umar Shannon individually bailed us out on offense down the stretch. It doesn’t have the feeling that pretty much the nine other MAAC wins have had.”
The Bobcats were led by guard Umar Shannon and forward Ousmane Drame. Shannon tallied a season high 26 points going 5-10 from three, and making 5 of his 6 free throw chances, 3 of which came in the final two minutes, while Drame recorded a double-double with 16 points to go along with 13 rebounds, as well as an impressive seven blocks. Senior forward Ike Azotam and junior guard Zaid Hearst also contributed 15 points each which helped carry the Bobcats to victory.
“I just wanted to give us a boost offensively,” Shannon said. “They were playing us tough; their big guys did a good job inside so I just wanted to give us a spark from the guards.”
This matchup was all about which team could get the final run in. Right out of the gate Marist was on fire shooting the ball and Quinnipiac found themselves down 25-10 half way through the first half. Marist guard Khallid Hart was a main factor in that early run for the Red Foxes as he was 3 of 3 shooting for 8 points in the first 9 minutes of the game.
“We try and keep it even-keeled,” Shannon said. “We have a good group so when we are down we regroup and find ways to win games.”
Right out of a timeout called by Moore the Bobcats began to find their rhythm. It started with a 3-pointer by Shannon, followed by a Marist turnover and an Evan Conti transition three. This lead to an 18-2 run for the Bobcats who found themselves up 28-27 with just less than 6 minutes remaining in the half. The teams ended the first half tied at 40.
“We just had to get physical, rebound, start scoring the ball, and dig down on defense,” Drame said. “We felt like we’ve been in that situation before and you just have to find ways to scratch your way and get back in the game.”
The second half started much like the first half ended, the two teams both going on runs. The Bobcats came out of the break on a 6-0 run, but the Red Foxes came right back with a 12-0 run of their own going up 52-46. The teams continued going back and forth for much of the remainder of the half.
The Bobcats hit seven of eight free throws down the stretch that clinched the game for them. The Bobcats were up 76-72 when Drame blocked a three point attempt by Chavaughn Lewis and hit one of two free throws of the ensuing one and one. This put the Bobcats up by five and they would go on to win by a final of 83-78.
The Bobcats’ next game is on Thursday when the team travels to take on the Stags of Fairfield University where they look to improve to 11-and-4 in MAAC play this season.
