The grind of February produces all kinds of games in college basketball where surviving

until tournament time can be a feat unto itself.

With solid three-point shooting and an aggressive defense, the Canisius men's basketball

team earned a 71-56 win over Marist, the team with the worst record in the Metro Atlantic

Athletic Conference, in front of 1,348 at the Koessler Center Friday night.

The win snapped a three-game losing skid for the Golden Griffins (12-14, 7-8), but the

victory came with its fair share of drama.

First, Canisius had to overcome a sluggish end to the first half, which saw its 15-point

lead dwindle to single digits by the break.

Then came the antics midway through the second half. With the Griffs leading, 45-32, with

11:20 to play, Marist junior forward Korey Bauer and Canisius junior guard Robert Goldsberry

tangled under the Red Foxes basket for a rebound. Bauer's forearm took down Goldsberry. The

officials watched the replay and called a flagrant foul on Bauer, ejecting him from the game.

Julius Coles, shooting for the injured Goldsberry, hit both free throws. Canisius then went

to inbound the ball to restart play, but Marist (1-24, 1-14) coach Chuck Martin protested. He

received a double-technical foul and an ejection from the game.

"The [original] call was a foul on Goldsberry and Bauer had the ball," Martin said. "At

that point the play should be over, but one of the officials saw something different. He

thought it was a flagrant foul and that's the call he made."

Canisius coach Tom Parrotta said he didn't see the play and is uncertain of Goldsberry's

status for Sunday's game against Siena.

"He always seems to find himself in the middle of things," Parrotta said. "I didn't see

what happened but things like that go on in a game I don't think there was any ill will.

"Robert's nose was tucked in where it usually is and that's why he's a good cog for us. He

was really fazed by it and we'll keep a close on him. All he remembers is hitting the floor."

The Griffs took a 17-2 lead on solid shooting from three-point range and finished 11 for 31

from beyond the arc. Good defense frustrated Marist early, as the Red Foxes started the game 1

for 9 from the field. But the Griffs offense stalled, scoring just 10 points over the final

11:41 of the first half. Canisius came up empty on its final nine possessions and what looked

like an easy Griffs win suddenly was a 27-21 lead at the break.

The Griffs again benefited from a quick start, starting the second half on an 8-2 run.

Tomas Vazquez-Simmons hit a pair of three-pointers and a steal followed by a fast-break dunk

from Elton Frazier put Canisius back in control, 35-23.

"When we came into the locker room we were all pretty upset at how they had come back to

get the game as close as they did," said Canisius guard Julius Coles, who had a game-high 18

points, including four three-pointers. "We gave it all we had and that's what got us going.

... Coaches tell us to play hard, to make sure we're playing hard and that takes care of

everything."

Candon Rusin led Marist with 17 points.

Canisius continues its homestand hosting Siena at 2 p.m. Sunday.