Army Men’s Basketball Drops OT Thriller to Marist

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Army West Point men’s basketball team (2-2) fell in an overtime thriller, 91-88 to in-state foe, the Marist Red Foxes (2-1) at McCann Arena on Friday night.

The Black Knights and Red Foxes traded blows all night long in what a back-and-forth affair was, featuring 15 lead changes, 13 ties and neither side leading by more than seven points.

Army sophomore Ryan Curry scored a career-high 28 points, on 10-18 shooting, including 6-11 from behind the three-point arch.

Senior Jalen Rucker followed right behind totaling 23 points on 9-18 shooting.

Rucker scored a go-ahead driving layup to give Army a two-point lead, 76-48 with 5.3 seconds left on the second half clock. However, Marist’s Jadin Collins-Roberts converted on a driving layup as time expired to send the game into overtime.

In overtime Curry scored Army’s first six points by way of the three-point ball. After Curry’s three’s the Black Knights led by four, 82-78 with 3:40 to go in the extra period.

The Red Foxes answered by going on an 11-4 run to take an 89-86 lead with 12 seconds to go which was capped off by a go-ahead three-pointer from Josh Pascarelli. The Marist guard scored 25 on the night, 15 of which came from behind the arch on five three-pointers.

Following a pair of free throw makes from Curry, Army trailed by one, 89-88.

Army got the ball back with 1.8 seconds down by one but an offensive foul by AJ Allenspach on the pass in derailed any shot of getting off a shot attempt.

At the buzzer, Rucker threw up a half-court heave that hit the front rim.

Rucker scored over 20 points for the first time this season and now has 23 career games over 20 points.

Army had four scorers in double-digits (Curry, 28; Rucker, 23; Allenspach, 14 and Scovens, 10).

Army shot 11-25 from three-point distance.

Army will be back in action next Wednesday (11/20) vs. FDU at Christl Arena.