NEW YORK (Dec. 11, 2023) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team trimmed a 21-point second-half deficit down to just six, but was ultimately defeated by CCNY, 78-67. USMMA dropped to 4-6 on the season, while CCNY improved to 6-4.

• Box Score

Senior Bryce Bristow (Plano, Texas) scored a game-high 22 points to lead four in double-figures for the Mariners. Junior Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, while senior DeMarcus Spivey (Ashburn, Va.) added 14 points and sophomore Clark Castleberry (Reston, Va.) scored 10. The Mariners shot just 34.8 percent (24-of-69) from the floor, including a 20.0 percent (5-of-25) effort from distance.
 
The Beavers shot 52.7 percent (29-of-55) from the floor and were led by Yassine Sakhi, who had 21 points and eight assists.
 
USMMA trailed by four points when a Zalescik 3-pointer and a pair of Bristow free throws capped a quick 5-0 run that gave the Mariners a 9-8 lead. After CCNY answered and retook the lead with five unanswered points of its own, USMMA went on another 5-0 spurt and grabbed a 14-13 lead with 12:20 to go in the half.
 
The back-and-forth continued as CCNY responded once again, this time with a 9-0 rally that put the Beavers up, 24-16, with 9:04 on the clock. The Mariners promptly responded and closed the gap to 24-22 as Spivey and Castleberry connected on consecutive 3-pointers, but the Beavers pushed their lead back to nine with 29 seconds left. Castleberry followed with a bucket and the Mariners trailed, 33-26, at the break.
 
The Mariners quickly fell behind by as many as 14 points early in the second half before a Zalescik 3-pointer capped a 12-4 run that cut the USMMA deficit to just six, 46-40, at the 15:12 mark. The Beavers, however, answered and pulled away for good with an 18-3 surge that made it a 64-43 ballgame with 7:49 on the clock.
 
USMMA still trailed by 15 with just 3:52 to go before Bristow scored nine points as part of an 11-2 run that pulled the Mariners to within six, 72-66, with just 58 seconds remaining in regulation.
 
The Mariners return home and host York in non-conference action at 7 p.m. on Dec.13. 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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