BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Jan. 10, 2024) – The USMMA men's basketball team suffered a hard-fought loss against the Pratt Cannoneers, 54-53, on the road on Wednesday night. USMMA fell to 5-9 overall with the loss, while the Cannoneers jumped to 7-8.
 
Game Links

• Box Score 

Neither the Mariners nor the Cannoneers were able to take control of the game throughout the first half. The two clubs were tied at 6-6 and then 9-9 just over five minutes into the first half. A triple from Pratt gave them a three-point lead for nearly three full minutes of game time, which then extended out to a 19-13 edge for the Cannoneers. But then a layup and a free throw from Bryce Bristow (Plano, Texas), followed by an Isaac Vencel (Bloomington, Ind.) three-pointer brought the Mariners level at 19-19, with eight minutes left in the half.
 
USMMA then got out to a 15-4 run over the next five minutes of game time, with six points from Vencel, four from Drew Zalescik (Lambertville,, N.J.), and a key trey from Caleb Hutchins (Buffalo, N.Y.). However, Pratt nailed two three's late in the half to enter the break down just two points, 31-29.
 
USMMA opened up the second half by outscoring Pratt 10-5 over five minutes, pulling ahead 41-34. Neither side could buy a basket for the next three minutes of game time, before Pratt drilled one from deep to cut the Mariner lead to 41-38. That seemed to spark something in the USMMA offense, as Rob Pryor's team ripped off a quick 6-0 spurt to extend their advantage to nine points, 47-38 with 10 minutes to play. 
 
But Pratt did not back down, as they chipped away over the next seven minutes to ultimately take the lead 49-47 with 3:37 left in the game, then 51-47 shortly after that.
 
With both sides struggling to find the basket, Jake Hatch (Austin, Texas) drilled a three to get the Mariners within two points, 52-50. The USMMA defense then forced a late turnover, which led to a Caleb Hutchins go-ahead three with just seven seconds left. But then, at the buzzer, Pratt's Cameron Windt hit a game-winning three to defeat the Mariners 54-53. 
 
USMMA was paced offensively by Isaac Vencel's 11 points, closely followed by 10 points apiece from Bryce Bristow and Drew Zalescik. Zalescik was the leading rebounder with 9, and Bristow dished out five assists.
 
For Pratt, Patrick O'Gorman dropped 16 points on 7-20 shooting. Ace Bibbs finished behind him with 13 points while connecting on six of seven attempts from the floor. O'Gorman flirted with a triple-double as well, filling out the stat sheet with 11 assists and eight rebounds. 
 
The Mariners are back in action to take on Manhattanville, at the Valiants' Kennedy Gym on January 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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