Marist looks to open 2009 with a MAAC win

The MAAC schedule resumes Friday night when Marist hosts the Saint Peter's Peacocks in a 7 p.m. tilt at the McCann Center.
This is the most winnable game on the Red Foxes' conference schedule. Saint Peter's enters the game at 4-8 on the season and 1-1 in the MAAC. The Peacocks played what many would call a soft schedule thus far. Saint Peter's does boast a win over MAAC opponent Canisius, however. Saint Peter's disposed of Canisius on Dec. 7, 76-52. Other than that performance, Saint Peter's has little to offer in terms of strength of schedule. The team fell to 1-11 Monmouth, 65-47, on Dec. 19.
Marist enters this contest fairly healthy and playing its best basketball of the season, despite the setback in Binghamton. The Red Foxes have won two of the last three and got standout point guard David Devezin back from injury. Marist delivered impressive victories over Delaware and Bucknell. Senior captain Ryan Schneider and freshman R.J. Hall earned MAAC weekly honors for their performances in those games. Schneider leads the Foxes in both scoring and rebounding with 15.5 ppg and 9.3 rpg. The Yorktown Heights product has played at an all-conference level to this point in the season. His 29-point output was the most for a Red Fox since Will Whittington drained 31 against Oklahoma State in Marist's upset win in the opening round of the NIT. Schneider ranks fourth in the MAAC in ppg and first in rpg. Schneider has also been a horse for the Red Foxes, logging 36.9 minutes per game. Against Binghamton, the senior played all 40 minutes. Only Rider's Ryan Thompson has played more with 37.5.
Marist's match-up is favorable for tomorrow night's game. Saint Peter's is 1-5 on the road and ranks last in the MAAC in ppg with 56.8. Saint Peter's does boast the best scoring defense, but a soft schedule factors into that statistic. Games against No. 15 Memphis and Horizon League-favorite Cleveland State have skewed some of Marist's statistical rankings. Saint Peter's also ranks last in field-goal percentage, something that bodes well for Chuck Martin's team. Marist prides itself on defense and Saint Peter's offensive struggles should play into Marist's hands.
Saint Peter's does boast several weapons that will challenge Marist. Sophomore guard Wesley Jenkins enters the game averaging 16.5 ppg while fellow sophomore guard Nick Leon score 14.5 ppg. The biggest match-up to follow will be Ryan Schneider against Ryan Bacon. The 6-foot-7 forward scores 9.5 ppg and leads the Peacocks with seven rpg. Schneider, Vouyoukas, and Williams will have their hands full with Bacon underneath. Although Saint Peter's does have threats, this is a match-up that Marist should win. With Devezin back and playing at home, the Red Foxes should start 2009 on a high note.