NEW YORK (Nov. 29, 2023) – Despite four players scoring in double-figures, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team lost its Skyline Conference-opener, 85-76, on Wednesday night at the Maccabees' Max Stern Athletic Center. In defeat, the Mariners fall to 3-3 (0-1 Skyline), while the Macs improve to 6-3 (4-0 Skyline) with the victory.
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Junior
Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) once again led the Mariners (and all players in the game) with 28 points. Classmate
Isaac Vencel (Bloomington, Ind.) recorded a double-double, adding 16 points and a career-best 10 assists, while just missing out on a triple-double with eight rebounds, which tied for the game-high. Seniors
DeMarcus Spivey (Ashburn, Va.) and
Bryce Bristow (Plano, Texas) both chipped in with 11 points apiece.
The Mariners held leads of both six and seven points on two separate occasions over the opening 11-plus minutes of the game, but the Maccabees fought back to tie it up at 26-26 at 3:20 of the first half. The hosts then finished on a 9-3 run to take a 35-29 lead into the halftime break.
Yeshiva's lead reached as high as 14 points, 54-40, at 14:15 of the second half, but USMMA would not quit. The Mariners used a 13-0 run to come back within just one point, 54-53, at 9:44. After the Macs went back ahead by seven, Merchant Marine cut the deficit to just one again at 61-60 at 6:42.
The Maccabees scored nine-straight, however to steal the momentum. Despite the Mariners coming back within four with just under four minutes to play, Yeshiva was able to hold them at bay and late free throws helped balloon the Macs' lead to double-digits before time expired with YU ahead by nine.
For the Macs, juniors Or Sundjyvsky and Zevi Samet had 25 and 24 points, respectively. Sundjyvsky tied Vencel's game-high of eight rebounds, while also leading all players with five steals. Sophomore Dothan Bardichev contributed 12 points and junior Max Zakheim added 10.
The Mariners return to action this coming Saturday, Dec. 2, for their annual 142 game against arch-rival Coast Guard. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Liebertz Gymnasium. Live stats and a live video steam of the game will be available with links on
the USMMA Men's Basketball Schedule Page.
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