Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (December 6, 2024)—Mount St. Mary's dropped a defensive battle in its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener, falling 53-50 at Marist on Friday night.  Dallas Hobbs led the Mountaineers with 11 points in the loss.

Trailing 39-31 early in the second half, the Mount (5-3, 0-1 MAAC) scored the next seven points to get right back into the game.  Javon Ervin opened the run with a bucket in the lane before Xavier Lipscomb converted a traditional three-point play.  Ervin's basket on a pass from Terrell Ard Jr. capped the Mount run.

After Marist pushed the lead to 44-40, the Mount went on a 5-0 run to take the lead.  Hobbs hit a pair of free throws, and Carmelo Pacheco hit a three to put the Mount ahead, 55-54, with nine minutes remaining.    After a Marist basket, Ard Jr. and Hobbs recorded back-to-back baskets to push the Mount ahead, 49-46, with 4:37 left in the game.

That would be the Mount's last points for the next 4:12 of action as Marist rallied to take the lead.  Jackson Price's traditional three-point play gave Marist a 51-49 lead with 3:49 on the clock, and then neither team was able to score over the next three minutes.  The Mount had five chances to either tie the game or take the lead over that span before Marist's Jaden Daughtry scored on a dunk in transition for a 53-49 advantage with 37 seconds left.  Hobbs was fouled on the next possession, and hit 1-of-2 to make it 53-50.  The Mount then forced a turnover to get the ball back and called timeout with 10.9 seconds on the clock.  Hobbs had his tying three go off the mark, and Ard Jr. grabbed the rebound and raced to the three-point line, but his desperation three also missed, and Marist escaped with the win. 

Hobbs finished the game with 11 points, three rebounds and three assists to lead the offense.  Ard Jr. added eight points and eight rebounds while Lipscomb chipped in eight points, three boards and three assists as well.  Jedy Cordilia pulled down a career-best 12 rebounds in the loss. 

Josh Pascarelli scored all of his game-high 13 points in the first half for the Red Foxes (5-2, 1-0 MAAC) with Price chipping in 11 points and four rebounds.

Mount St. Mary's shot 36.4 percent (20-of-55) from the field in the game, including 3-of-17 (.176) from beyond the arc.  The Mount held Marist to 40.7 percent shooting and 7-of-23 (.304) from three-point range.  The Mount forced 17 Marist turnovers.

The first half was close throughout with the biggest lead for each team was a 14-9 Marist advantage in the early going.  The Mount evened the score at 14-14 after a Lipscomb three-pointer and an Ard Jr. bucket.  Marist held a 26-22 lead before a quick 5-0 run put the Mountaineers back on top, 27-26.  Pacheco hit a three from the right wing, and Hobbs got a steal and a lay-up off the press on the inbounds for a 27-26 lead.  Lipscomb hit a pair of free throws for a 29-28 advantage, but Pascarell gave the Red Foxes a 31-29 advantage with a three-pointer in the final seconds.

UP NEXT:  The Mountaineers have a quick turnaround, hosting Fairfield on Sunday, December 8, at 2:00 p.m. The Air Elite Dunkers will perform at halftime while the fans will also receive Mount Santa Hats while supplies last.  Purchase tickets for Sunday's game HERE.