KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Feb. 17, 2024) – The USMMA men's basketball team secured a playoff berth with a 70-53 win over the St. Joseph's - Brooklyn Bears, on Senior Day. With the victory, the Mariners finished the regular season at 10-14 (7-9 Skyline), while SJBK wrapped up their year at 5-20 (4-12 Skyline).
 
Game Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Bryce Bristow 

The Mariners showed up ready to go from the opening tip, as Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) drilled his first three-point attempt on the opening possession of the contest. That sparked a quick 7-0 run for the Mariners, although the Bears hung tough and pulled to within three points shortly after.
 
Both sides then traded buckets for a stretch in the middle of the first half, with Merchant Marine increasing their lead to 21-13, with under nine minutes to go in the first period.
 
St. Joseph's was able to battle back after watching their deficit increase to as many as eight points. The Bears ripped off a 10-2 run over the next eight minutes, culminating in a Chris Tracy triple to tie things up at 23-23.
 
Despite the counter-punch, USMMA stayed strong to close out the first half. Bryce Bristow (Plano, Texas) and DeMarcus Spivey (Ashburn, Va.) each converted and-one layups as Merchant Marine went into the locker room with a 33-25 lead.
 
Out of the break, the Mariners once again came out with good intensity in a must-win game at home. USMMA propelled their lead to 11 points with 14:35 to play, thanks to four more points from Bristow and three from Spivey.
 
After a series of defensive stops, Merchant Marine utilized an 11-1 spurt to create some more breathing room against the Bears. Spivey, Isaac Vencel (Bloomington, Ind.), and Caleb Hutchins (Buffalo, N.Y.) all drained triples to push the Mariners ahead 55-37 just about halfway through the second half.
 
That stretch proved to be the knockout shot for USMMA, as they never let the Bears get within single-digits the rest of the way in a 70-53 win. Bristow finished as the Mariners' leading scorer on his Senior Day, with 17 points to go along with six rebounds and a pair of blocks. Fellow senior DeMarcus Spivey added 16 points, and Drew Zalescik poured in 14 points. Crucially, the Mariners turned the ball over just six times as a unit.
 
For the Bears, Evan Sirakis was the only double-digit scorer with 13 points.
 
The Mariners are the #6-seed in the Skyline Tournament and will travel for their first round playoff game on Tuesday, Feb. 20, to #3-seed Manhattanville. Stay logged on to www.USMMASports.com and our social media sites (links below) for more information.
 
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