KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Feb. 10, 2024) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team utilized a 20-2 game-opening run to coast to a 78-59 victory over St. Joseph's University of Long Island on Saturday at Liebertz Gymnasium. The win puts the Mariners at 9-14 overall and 6-8 in Skyline Conference play. The Golden Eagles dropped to an overall record of 11-12 with a 5-9 mark in league competition.
 
Game Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Drew Zalescik 

Junior guard Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) led all scorers with 25 points and 15 rebounds in the win for USMMA, going 9-for-14 from the field and 6-of-9 at the free throw line. Zalescik was one of four Mariners in double figures in the victory, with senior DeMarcus Spivey (Ashburn, Va.) pouring in 16 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists. Junior guard Isaac Vencel (Bloomington, Ind.) added 14 points and seven boards as senior forward Bryce Bristow (Plano, Texas) chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds. The Mariners shot a scorching 51.6% (16-31) from the floor in the first half on their way to hitting field goals at a 45% (29-64) clip in the victory.
 
Xavier Allen posted a team-high 18 points for St. Joseph's-Long Island with Alec Tabada and Ryan McNeely adding 12 points apiece in the losing effort.
 
The Golden Eagles scored the first points of the game on a second-chance jumper from Allen before sophomore center Clark Castleberry (Reston, Va.) put the Mariners up to stay with a three-pointer with just two minutes gone from the first half. The long-distance jumper began a run of 20 unanswered points from USMMA as Spivey, Valescik and Vencel combined to put the Mariners ahead with distance. St. Joseph's-Long Island cut the lead down to single digits several times in the first half, but the Mariners continued to pour on the points with a lay-up from senior Jake Hatch (Austin, Texas) ending the hosts' scoring account to lead 40-26 at the halftime break.
 
The Mariners continued to keep the Golden Eagles at bay in the final frame of regulation, with Zalescik contributing a second-half double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) as Bristow and Spivey helped pour to their largest lead in the game in the closing minute of action. USMMA feasted on a +18 rebounding margin, securing 50 boards to their opponents' 32, adding 46 points in the paint with 20 points coming on second-chance opportunities in the victory.
 
USMMA will begin the final week of regular season play on Monday (Feb. 12) as the Mariners travel to Old Westbury for a 7:30 PM tip-off against the Panthers. 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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