KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Jan. 30, 2024) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team trailed by just three points with 9:52 left in regulation, but could not keep pace down the stretch and was defeated by first-place Farmingdale State, 88-76. USMMA dropped to 8-12 (5-6 Skyline), while Farmingdale State improved to 19-1 (11-0 Skyline).
 
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• Box Score 

Senior DeMarcus Spivey (Ashburn, Va.) scored a team-high 21 points to lead USMMA, while classmate Bryce Bristow (Plano, Texas) made 4-of-6 3-pointers as part of an 18-point night. Senior Jake Hatch (Austin, Texas) chipped in with 11 points and junior Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) added 10. The Mariners shot 47.2 percent (25-of-53) from the floor, including a 52.0 percent (13-of-25) effort from distance, but finished -21 (43-22) on the glass and were outscored 20-6 in second chance points.
 
Nick Hurowtiz had a 30-point, 16-rebound double-double to lead the Rams, while Corey Powell finished with 20 points. Farmingdale State shot an even 50.0 percent (32-of-64) from both the floor and 3-point range (11-of-22).
 
A closely-contested first half featured seven ties and nine lead changes. When a pair of Bristow free throws at 13:51 tied the game at 11-apiece, it already marked the fifth tie of the game. The Mariners pulled ahead, 16-15, on a Vencel layup, but the Rams used a 7-0 run to grab a 22-16 advantage midway through the half.
 
After USMMA closed to within two, 26-24, with help from 3-pointers by Bristow and sophomore Clark Castleberry (Reston, Va.), the Rams pushed it right back to five with a 3-pointer of their own. Spivey promptly followed with a 3-pointer before adding a layup to knot the score at 29-29 with 5:36 to play in the half. Another Spivey 3-pointer put the Mariners on top, 32-31, before the teams ended up level again at 34-34. The Rams closed out the half with a layup-and-one followed by a 3-pointer to take a 40-34 lead into the locker room.
 
Spivey continued to lead the Mariners, converting a jumper to open the scoring in the second half as USMMA closed to within four points. The Rams answered quickly, however, putting together a 10-2 run to grab a 50-38 lead at 16:28. A 3-pointer by sophomore Caleb Hutchins (Buffalo, N.Y.) stopped the rally and started an 8-0 run for the Mariners that made it a 50-46 game with 14:32 to go.
 
USMMA kept it close and still trailed just 64-59 at the 8:29 mark before the Rams used a 7-2 rally to make it a 10-point game, 71-61. Another Hutchins 3-pointer made it 77-70 with 3:46 to play, but the Mariners would come no closer as the Rams pulled away for the final 88-76 margin.
 
The Mariners return to action on Feb. 3, traveling to face 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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