Fairfield tops Marist 71-57, heads to MAAC quarterfinals
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Tyler Nelson scored 28 points with four 3-pointers and five assists and sixth-seeded Fairfield never trailed in beating 11th-seeded Marist 71-57 on Thursday night in the opening round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament.
Jonathan Kasibabu scored 11 points, Ferron Flavors Jr. added 10 with three 3s and Jesus Cruz grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds for the Stags (15-15). Fairfield shot just 36.9 percent from the field but outrebounded the Red Foxes 45-31, scoring 19 second-chance points off of 15 offensive boards.
Fairfield faces third-seeded Niagara on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
Kasibabu scored the first six points in Fairfield's opening 14-4 run and the Stags led by as many as 22 before taking a 41-24 lead into the break. Nelson scored 21 first-half points.
Marist closed to 60-46 on Brian Parker's free throw with 7:07 to play, but got no closer.
Parker scored 20 points, David Knudsen added 13 and Isaiah Lamb grabbed a career-high eight rebounds for Marist (6-25).
Game Information
- Referees:
- Mike Kitts
- Brandon Cruz
- Andy O'Brien
2023-24 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Quinnipiac | 15-5 | - | 24-10 |
Fairfield | 14-6 | 1 | 24-13 |
Marist | 12-8 | 3 | 18-13 |
Saint Peter's | 12-8 | 3 | 19-14 |
Rider | 12-8 | 3 | 15-17 |
Niagara | 11-9 | 4 | 16-16 |
Iona | 10-10 | 5 | 16-17 |
Mount St. Mary's | 9-11 | 6 | 13-19 |
Canisius | 8-12 | 7 | 14-18 |
Manhattan | 4-16 | 11 | 7-23 |
Siena | 3-17 | 12 | 4-28 |