Boys Basketball: Seton edges Marist in closing seconds
Updated: January 24, 2012 9:44PM
Seton coach Brandon Thomas wasn’t about to pretend Russell Robinson’s game-winning lay-in was the result of any fancy, drawn-up play.
“It wasn’t a play, I’m not going to take credit for it,” Thomas said. “Jordan Foster made a play.”
Foster drove the lane, drawing Marist’s defenders to him. Then the 6-1 senior passed to Robinson, who was streaking along the baseline. The 6-9 senior laid the ball in with two seconds to play to the No. 24 Sting a 64-62 win over visiting Marist.
Two key three-pointers in the final two minutes from junior Kamal Shasi helped get Seton in position to win.
“He’s made big threes for us ever since he stepped on campus,” Thomas said. “He’s proven to be a big shot guy. I have confidence when he shoots the ball that he’s going to make it.”
Shasi finished with 16 points and Mark Weems added 14 and five rebounds. Damian Evans scored 12 and JR Tolliver added eight points and eight rebounds. Robinson finished with six points, four rebounds and three blocks for Seton (16-3).
The game began at a frantic pace, with 53 points scored in the first quarter and the teams combining for nine three-pointers.
“Our guys came (to Seton) to play on the big stage,” Thomas said. “The lights were on tonight and they stepped up.”
The game featured over a dozen lead changes, with no team grabbing the upper hand until the final basket.
“They played hard and we played hard,” Thomas said. “This is the first time we’ve played them and I’d like to keep it going, maybe build it into a good rivalry.”
LJ McIntosh led Marist (16-5) with 18 points and Matt O’Reilly had 17 points. Tyler Oden added 11 points and six rebounds.
Seton outrebounded Marist 31-24, helping make up for the Redhawks’ three-point shooting (13-for-24).
“They came out shooting very well and pretty much stayed that way,” Thomas said. “We want to play a schedule with different teams like this. Our goal wasn’t to be undefeated and have a shiny record, we want a schedule that will help us improve.”
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