Allenspach entered the starting lineup and stayed there for the next three-and-a- half years. The 75-71 Marist victory was also the first of a then-program record 22 straight wins for the Red Foxes. This streak included an undefeated run through MAAC play. The conference introduced an 18-game schedule when Marist and Rider joined in the 1997-98 season. In the 10 previous years of the arrangement, no team had gone 18-0 until the Red Foxes accomplished the feat in 2007-08. En route to perfection, Marist won seemingly in every way possible. The Red Foxes won close games (at Loyola and Manhattan by identical scores of 61-59 over a span of three days), blowouts (nine by over 20), and everything in-between. They held five conference foes under 50 points and scored over 80 six times. After their Sweet Sixteen run, the Red Foxes could no longer hide behind the cloak of anonymity. Marist was receiving votes in the national polls from the start of the season. On Feb. 12, the Red Foxes earned their first in-season national ranking in program history when they were tabbed #25 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Just 13 days later, Marist also entered the Top 25 of the Associated Press Poll. The Red Foxes cleaned up when the conference awards were doled out. Fitz, who reached the 1,000-point milestone faster than anyone in program history (61 games), was named Player of the Year. Allenspach, who shot .503 from the field and .493 from three-point range, won Rookie of the Year. Johnson earned Sixth Player of the Year. For the fourth time in five years, Giorgis was named Coach of the Year. Flores and Viani were named to the second team. Even with Marist’s outstanding resume, an NCAA berth would not be completely assured unless the Red Foxes could pull off three more wins in the MAAC Championship. Marist received everyone’s best shot. Although Marist had defeated Canisius by a combined total of 72 points in the two regular-season games, the eighth-seeded Golden Griffins went toe-to-toe with the Red Foxes. Marist grabbed the lead for good five-and-a-half minutes into the second half as part of a 10-0 run in which Canisius was held scoreless for 6:38. The Red Foxes prevailed 54-44 as Flores, who went 6-for-6 from the line in the final 91 seconds, scored a team-high 13 points. In this era, the only person in New York who closed games with more longevity and success than Flores was Mariano Rivera. A physical battle with fifth-seeded Saint Peter’s was next. Although the Peahens fought hard, Marist was in control most of the way. Saint Peter’s was held without a field goal for the first 7:44 of the second half, and Marist went 34-for-44 from the free-throw line in its 78-67 victory. It was the Red Foxes’ program-record 30th of the season, and they were in the MAAC final for the fifth straight year. For the second straight year, Iona was the championship game foe. The Gaels led briefly around the midway point of the first half, but the Red Foxes seized control thanks to a 15-0 run. Flores scored nine straight Marist points, and the Red Foxes’ lead
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MARIST ATHLETICS
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