SMITHFIELD, R.I. (Interstat) — Justin Menard scored 27 points to lead Marist to an 82-74 victory over Bryant in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Chace Athletic Center. The Red Foxes (7-2) used a strong first half, taking a 36-28 lead into halftime, and held off a second-half push from the Bulldogs (3-9). Menard added three assists in 31 minutes. Elijah Lewis contributed 18 points for Marist, which shot 50.9% from the field and a near-perfect 20 for 21 from the free-throw line. Timofei Rudovskii led Bryant with 17 points. The Bulldogs shot 11 for 31 from three-point range and committed 15 turnovers. Attendance was 674.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (Interstat) — Justin Menard scored 27 points and Marist used a dominant first half to build an insurmountable lead, holding off a second-half surge from Bryant for an 82-74 victory in nonconference men’s basketball Saturday afternoon at Chace Athletic Center. The Red Foxes (7-2) seized control early, opening the game on a 20-6 run and leading by as many as 18 points in the first half. They took a 36-28 advantage into halftime, capitalizing on a stifling defensive effort that forced the Bulldogs into 10 first-half turnovers and limited them to 28 points on 36% shooting. Marist’s efficiency was the story of the opening period. The Red Foxes shot 50% from the floor, attacked the paint for 20 points, and converted 11 of 12 free throws. Meanwhile, Bryant (3-9) struggled to find any offensive rhythm, making just 4 of 15 attempts from three-point range. The Bulldogs emerged from the break with renewed energy, opening the second half on a 13-7 spurt to cut the deficit to 43-41 with 15:54 remaining. The surge was fueled by Timofei Rudovskii, who scored 13 of his team-high 17 points after halftime, and Quincy Allen, who finished with 12 points. Just as Bryant threatened to complete the comeback, Menard took over. The 6-foot-3 guard from Higganum, Connecticut, answered with a personal 8-0 run, hitting two three-pointers and a step-back jumper in a 90-second span to push Marist’s lead back to 51-41. His scoring burst halted Bryant’s momentum and restored a double-digit cushion the Red Foxes would not relinquish. “He’s our catalyst, and when we needed a bucket to stop their run, he went and got it,” a Marist spokesperson said of Menard, who added three assists in 31 minutes. “That sequence was the game.” Bryant continued to battle, closing within six points on several occasions in the final five minutes, but Marist’s precision at the free-throw line sealed the outcome. The Red Foxes made 20 of 21 from the stripe, including 10 of 11 in the final 1:10 to extinguish any last hopes for the Bulldogs. Elijah Lewis provided crucial support for Marist with 18 points, while Jason Schofield added 12 points off the bench. The Red Foxes won despite being outscored 46-46 in the second half, thanks to their early defensive intensity and superior ball security, committing only 10 turnovers to Bryant’s 15. For Bryant, Rudovskii’s 17 points led four players in double figures. Allen contributed 12 points, while Ashley Sims and Aaron Davis each scored 11. The Bulldogs shot a respectable 50% for the game but were hampered by their slow start and an inability to contain Menard in critical moments. Marist finished the game shooting 50.9% from the field and posted an offensive rating of 120.6 points per 100 possessions. Bryant managed a 104.8 offensive rating and won the three-point battle, making 11 to Marist’s six, but it was not enough to overcome the early deficit. The Red Foxes have now won three straight games and will travel to face Georgia Tech on Tuesday. Bryant, which has lost three of its last four, will look to rebound on the road at High Point next Monday. The game drew an announced crowd of 674. Marist covered the pregame spread as a 4.5-point favorite, and the total score of 156 points sailed over the over/under line of 126.

Preview: Marist Red Foxes at Bryant Bulldogs SMITHFIELD, R.I. (Interstat) — A surging Marist men’s basketball team will look to extend its winning streak when it visits a struggling Bryant squad in a non-conference matchup Saturday at Chace Athletic Center. The Red Foxes (6-2) enter on a four-game win streak, most recently defeating Manhattan 80-68 on Dec. 7. Marist has found success with balanced contributions, but has been led by guard Elijah Lewis. He is coming off a dominant performance against Manhattan, scoring 22 points with eight rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes. Over his last five games, Lewis is averaging 12 points and has been a consistent two-way presence. Bryant (3-8) seeks to halt a two-game skid after a 69-63 loss at Iona on Wednesday. The Bulldogs have faced a challenging early schedule, with six of their eight losses coming on the road. Forward Aaron Davis provided a bright spot in the Iona defeat, scoring a season-high 18 points and blocking three shots in 33 minutes. His production will be key against a confident Marist frontcourt. The game pits contrasting trajectories. Marist’s offense has clicked during its streak, averaging 73.5 points in its last four wins. Alongside Lewis, Rhyjon Blackwell (17 points, eight rebounds vs. Manhattan) and Justin Menard, who dished 11 assists in that game, provide multiple threats. Bryant, meanwhile, has struggled to find consistent scoring, averaging 62.5 points in its last four contests. The Bulldogs will need a collective effort to counter Marist’s rhythm, with Timofei Rudovskii (17 points vs. Iona) and Ashley Sims also serving as key contributors. This is the final non-conference tune-up for Bryant before America East Conference play begins in January. Marist continues its road swing before Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action starts next month. Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon.