Marist releases non-conference schedule

Mike Maker begins his third season at Marist with challenging non-conference schedule that opens with Duke. (Photo by Vincent Simone/NYC Buckets)

Mike Maker's second season at Marist was a trying one, as the Red Foxes attempted to replace all-time leading scorer   Lewis. However, the infusion of young talent in the form of Brian Parker and Isaiah Lamb, coupled with the emergence of Khallid Hart as an all-conference talent and potent scorer, gives the Red Foxes reason to be optimistic heading into year three of the current regime in Poughkeepsie.

Maker's third year does not begin with a layup, as the season opens at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 11 against Duke, revealed after the Red Foxes' non-conference schedule was released Tuesday afternoon. The trip to Durham is the first game of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off, and Marist's inclusion in the event comes at the expense of Albany, who was initially slated to face Duke before New York governor Andrew Cuomo intervened by prohibiting Albany from traveling to North Carolina in protest of the controversial House Bill 2, which eliminates protection against discrimination of LGBT groups.

Marist resumes the Hall of Fame Tip-Off with a second road game, facing Dan Hurley and Rhode Island at the Ryan Center in Kingston on November 14. The Red Foxes contest their home opener two days later against John Becker and the University of Vermont, marking three straight postseason teams from last season in their first three games.

The Red Foxes' next two games will conclude the Hall of Fame Tip-Off, and will be played at Mohegan Sun Arena, first against Brown on November 19 before facing Grand Canyon the following day. Marist will then travel to Dartmouth, where Maker spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach, on November 26 before returning to McCann Arena on the 29th of the month to host UMass Lowell, the second of three America East opponents on the schedule.

Following the opening weekend of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play, Marist heads to SEFCU Arena on December 7 to return a home-and-home series with Will Brown and Albany, who reached the College Basketball Invitational a year ago. The Red Foxes welcome Jacksonville to Poughkeepsie on December 10 before embarking on a two-game road trip that wraps up the non-league slate, first at Delaware on December 20 before visiting reigning Patriot League champion Holy Cross on the 23rd.

2016-17 Marist College Non-Conference Schedule (tip times TBD)

Friday, November 11: at Duke (Hall of Fame Tip-Off)

Monday, November 14: at Rhode Island (Hall of Fame Tip-Off)

Wednesday, November 16: vs. Vermont

Saturday, November 19: vs. Brown (Hall of Fame Tip-Off, Mohegan Sun Arena)

Sunday, November 20: vs. Grand Canyon (Hall of Fame Tip-Off, Mohegan Sun Arena)

Saturday, November 26: at Dartmouth

Tuesday, November 29: vs. UMass Lowell

Wednesday, December 7: at UAlbany

Saturday, December 10: vs. Jacksonville

Tuesday, December 20: at Delaware

Friday, December 23: at Holy Cross