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KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Feb. 27, 2021) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team defeated visiting Connecticut College, 77-61, in the Mariners' first game at the Liebertz Gymnasium in over a year. With the win, USMMA improves to 1-1, while the Camels start the season 0-1. To view a photo gallery of the game, click here.
 
Junior Blaine McDonough (Marietta, Ga.) led all players in scoring and was one of two Mariners to put up double digits, as he drained 20 points to go along with seven rebounds. He shot 9-for-12 on the day. Freshman Bryce Bristow (Plano, Texas) nearly recorded a double-double with 18 points and nine boards, while also contributing three assists. Bristow made 8-of-10 attempts from the field.
 
Senior Jesse Neloms (Memphis, Tenn.) added nine points off the bench, while junior Jack Bucher (Carlisle, Pa.) and freshman Gavin Green (Flower Mound, Texas) also put up nine points apiece. Bucher brought down seven rebounds, tied for the game-high with five assists and also led all players with three steals and two blocks.
 
Four other Mariners got in on the scoring action as senior James Walsh (Huntington, N.Y.) drained seven, freshman Josh Kauffman (East Providence, R.I.) hit one three-pointer and junior Isaiah Nix (Yorktown, Va.) added two. The Mariners out-rebounded a tall Conn. College team, 34-20, on the afternoon, and had 21 assists to the Camels' 15.
 
The Mariners stormed out to a double-digit lead just seven minutes into the game, and got the advantage up to as many as 13 points, 24-11, at 8:59. However, the Camels fought all the way back to take a one-point lead, 35-34, at 2:52 after a 24-9 run. Merchant Marine finished the half strong with two defensive boards and two forced turnovers, and scored the final six points to lead 40-35 going into the break.
 
USMMA kept the momentum going early in the second half, scoring the first six points and forcing Conn. College to burn an early timeout with the Mariners ahead double digits, 46-35. The Camels only came as close as seven points once the remainder of the day, at 10:40, when a layup made it 57-50 in favor of the hosts. The two teams traded baskets over the following minutes and then Merchant Marine started pulling away late to secure the victory.
 
For Connecticut College, freshman Jarron Flynn led three players in double figures with 17 points for the Camels and tied Bucher for the game-high with five assists. Classmate Billy Whelan added 14 points and fellow freshman David Murray chipped in with 11. Senior Chukwudi Dikko Jr. led Conn. College with four rebounds.
 
Postgame interviews with Blaine McDonough and Head Coach Rob Pryor can be viewed at the bottom of this page.
 
The two teams will be right back at it tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 28, starting at 1 p.m. at the Liebertz Gymnasium. Prior to the game, the Mariners will pay tribute to their graduating seniors with a special Senior Day ceremony. Live stats and a live video feed of the game will be available with links on the USMMA Men's Basketball Schedule Page.
 
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