FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (Jan. 3, 2024) – Junior Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) scored a game-high 24 points, but the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team was defeated at Farmingdale State, 90-69. USMMA dropped to 4-8 (1-3 Skyline) on the season, while Farmingdale State improved to 11-1 (3-0 Skyline).

Game Link

• Box Score

Zalescik finished 11-of-17 from the floor to lead three Mariners in double-figures. Junior Isaac Vencel (Bloomington, Ind.) contributed 16 points, including a 4-of-5 effort from 3-point range, and senior DeMarcus Spivey (Ashburn, Va.) added 11 points. The Mariners shot 42.9 percent (30-of-70) from the field, but made just 4-of-23 3-pointers (17.4 percent) and finished -12 (45-33) in rebounding margin.
 
Nick Hurowitz scored 21 points to lead five players in double-figures for the Rams.
 
Farmingdale State scored the game's first six points before sophomore Clark Castleberry (Reston, Va.) put USMMA on the board. The Rams then scored the next nine points on their way to opening a 15-2 advantage by the 15:07 mark of the first half. Vencel interrupted the rally with a layup, but Farmingdale State followed with a 12-0 surge that made it a 27-4 ballgame with 12:11 remaining until halftime.
 
The Rams eventually built a 35-8 lead before Zalescik went to work, scoring all eight points as part of an 8-2 run that pulled USMMA to within 37-16. Farmingdale State, however, closed out the half with a 10-4 rally and took a 47-20 lead into the locker room.
 
USMMA still trailed by 27 points at the 11:02 mark before layups from Spivey, Zalescik and Vencel contributed to a 6-0 run for the Mariners that made it 69-48.
 
After Farmingdale State opened its largest lead, 90-59, with 3:57 to play, Vencel drained a 3-pointer as the Mariners closed out the game with a 10-0 run.
 
The Mariners return home on Jan. 6 and host conference rival SUNY Maritime for a 1 p.m. game. 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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