KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Jan. 20, 2024) – The USMMA men's basketball team gutted out a 61-57 win over the Old Westbury Panthers, with some crucial late free throws. USMMA improved to 7-10 (4-4 Skyline) with the win, while the Panthers fell to 0-17 (0-8 Skyline).
 
Game Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Drew Zalescik 

Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) corralled the opening tip and raced down the floor to begin the game with a layup for USMMA, but it was Old Westbury who controlled the action for much of the first half. The Panthers scored the next seven points to go up 7-2 over the Mariners.
 
Both teams were tenacious on the defensive end, as OW held Merchant Marine to just four of their first sixteen field goal attempts in the first 10 minutes. For the Mariners, they limited the Panthers to 37% shooting from the floor, but Old Westbury led 13-10 at the 10-minute mark.
 
Old Westbury pushed the lead to as much as eight points at 20-12 with under seven minutes to go in the first half. However, USMMA closed the half with a 12-8 stretch, featuring eight points from Zalescik to hit the break down by four, 31-17.
 
Kings Point brought renewed energy out of the halftime break, quickly tying the game at 31-31 on a pair of free throws from Isaac Vencel (Bloomington, Ind.).
 
Each side traded punches for a stretch after that, working to a 41-40 Mariner lead with 12:18 left in the second half. Then 60 seconds after that, DeMarcus Spivey (Ashburn, Va.) drained a pair of free throws to kickstart a 12-2 run for USMMA. Spivey himself poured in five points during that stretch, with Jakob Gonzales (Golden, Colo.) adding a clutch three-pointer.
 
Yet the Panthers did not roll over, despite the 53-42 deficit they faced. Old Westbury tightened up defensively, holding USMMA to just four points as they pulled within three points with 90 seconds to play. OW's Amadi Lee-Kane then drilled a game-tying three with 51 seconds to play, leveling the score at 57-57.
 
But with the game on the line, Isaac Vencel drove hard to the paint and converted a difficult layup to retake the lead for Kings Point, 59-57. From there, USMMA forced a turnover on Lee-Kane, and Drew Zalescik drained two free throws to secure a 61-57 victory for the Mariners.
 
Zalescik paced USMMA with 23 points to go along with 15 rebounds for his second double-double this week. Isaac Vencel was the only other Mariner to finish in double figures with 11. Defensively, Caleb Hutchins (Buffalo, N.Y.) blocked four shots for the second straight game, and also recorded a steal.
 
Amodi Lee-Kane poured in 17 points for the Panthers, along with four rebounds, four assists, four steals, and a block. Jordan Johnson-Rader added 10 points on a perfect 5-5 shooting performance.
 
The Mariners are back in action this Wednesday, January 24th, to take on St. Joseph's - Long Island, at the Golden Eagles' Danzi Athletic Center. 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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