The Sports Network

DATE & TIME: Sunday, January 13, 2 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Draddy Gymnasium (2,520) -- Riverdale, New York. Television: None. Home Record: Marist 2-4, Manhattan 2-2. Away Record: Marist 1-6, Manhattan 2-6. Neutral Record: Marist 1-2, Manhattan 0-2. Conference Record: Marist 1-4, Manhattan 2-3. Series Record: Manhattan leads, 23-15.

GAMES NOTES: A pair of teams stuck in reverse will try to turn things around on Sunday when the Marist Red Foxes clash with the Manhattan Jaspers in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play at Draddy Gymnasium.

Marist has lost six straight games after an 86-62 setback against Iona on Thursday. The losing streak has continued a dismal season for Marist which is just 4-12 overall including just a single win in five tries against league foes. Marist has struggled on the road with a 1-6 mark as well. The Red Foxes will be on the road yet again in their next matchup against Loyola- Maryland.

Things haven't been much better in Riverdale for the Jaspers. Manhattan is just 4-11 overall and has lost six of its last seven games after a 69-60 defeat to Rider at the front end of this two-game homestand. The loss was the second in four attempts at home for Manhattan which travels to Buffalo to take on Canisius and Niagara in consecutive games next.

This is the second meeting of the season for these two squads with Marist earning a 62-58 victory on its home floor in early December. Manhattan leads the all-time series, 23-15.

Marist led by as many as 11 points in the second half against Iona, but a 13-0 run midway through the period put the Red Foxes behind 68-66. The Red Foxes would lead just once more in the game. Marist lost despite outscoring Iona 39-27 from beyond the arc due to 16 turnovers, which turned into 27 points for the Gaels.

The Red Foxes have not put up a ton of resistance this season as they allow 72.0 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting. Those numbers are leaps and bounds above what Marist scores itself with the Red Foxes netting just 63.8 points per game while shooting just above 40 percent from the floor. Marist will be without Jay Bowie (7.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg) in this contest who is listed as out with a concussion. Devin Price (14.9 ppg) and Chavaughn Lewis (14.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg) will still be on the court though. The pair are the lead scorers for Marist although neither has shot particularly well, especially Price, who has connected on just 35.1 percent from the field.

A 26.1 percent shooting effort in the first half was too much to overcome for Manhattan in its recent loss to Rider. The Jaspers did manage to stay in striking distance by outscoring the Broncs 27-9 from 3-point range, but that was largely wiped out by a 24-9 deficit from the free-throw line.

Although Manhattan has been a stronger defensive team than Marist, it hasn't led to more wins because of the Jaspers' poor offensive production. Manhattan is the lowest scoring team in the MAAC (57.7 ppg), while ranking second to last in field goal percentage (.394) and rebounds (31.9 pg). Only Rhamel Brown (11.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg) is scoring in double figures and leads the MAAC in field goal percentage (.557). The 6-foot-7 forward also protects the rim well for Manhattan as he leads the MAAC in blocks (2.4 pg) as well. The injury bug could also be a factor in this contest, as Michael Alvarado (8.4 ppg) is listed as questionable with a sprained ankle.

Having a consistent scoring threat in the low block will be quite an advantage for Manhattan in a battle of low-scoring squads. However outside of Brown, the Jaspers don't have much offensive spark to speak of if Alvarado can't play giving Marist a slight edge.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Marist 61, Manhattan 59