BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Dec. 9, 2023) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team led by three with 7:59 to play, but was outscored 15-2 the rest of the way and fell to St. Joseph's-Brooklyn, 52-42. USMMA dropped to 4-5 (1-2 Skyline), while St. Joseph's-Brooklyn improved to 2-8 (1-1 Skyline).

Game Link

• Box Score

Senior Bryce Bristow (Plano, Texas) scored a team-high 12 points to lead USMMA, while classmate DeMarcus Spivey (Ashburn, Va.) added eight points, and sophomore Clark Castleberry (Reston, Va.) chipped in with six points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. The Mariners were held to just 29.6 percent (16-of-54) shooting and were outrebounded by a 44-35 margin.
 
The Bears were led by Max Butler, who finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
 
USMMA trailed, 14-8, at the 12:24 mark before Bristow scored five-straight points to make it a one-point game, 14-13. The Bears then went on a 7-0 run on and eventually opened a 25-13 advantage with 6:43 to play. Junior Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) followed with a 3-pointer and later added a jumper in the closing seconds as USMMA went into halftime trailing, 27-24.
 
The Mariners still trailed, 34-30, before Bristow made a pair of free throws and a Spivey jumper knotted the score at 34-34 with 10:35 to go in regulation. A 3-pointer from Bristow later gave the Mariners a 39-36 advantage.
 
USMMA still led, 40-37, at the 7:59 mark before the Bears went on a 9-0 run to take a 46-40 lead with just 4:34 to play. A layup from sophomore Caleb Hutchins (Buffalo, N.Y.) pulled the Mariners to within four, but the Bears closed out the game with a 6-0 run for the final 52-42 margin.
 
The Mariners return to action on Dec. 11, traveling to face CCNY for a 7 p.m. non-conference contest. 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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