PURCHASE, N.Y. (Feb. 20, 2024) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team led for the majority of the first half, but an 11-0 run by Manhattanville before the break flipped the momentum as the Mariners were defeated, 73-60, in the Skyline Quarterfinals. USMMA dropped to 10-16, while Manhattanville improved to 18-8.
 
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• Box Score 

Junior Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) scored a team-high 16 points to pace USMMA, while classmate Isaac Vencel (Bloomington, Ind.) added 14 points. Seniors Bryce Bristow (Plano, Texas) and DeMarcus Spivey (Ashburn, Va.) finished with 13 points apiece. The Mariners shot just 38.9 percent (21-of-54) from the floor, including a 27.3 percent (6-of-22) mark from distance.
 
Xavier Kistoo-Miles scored a game-high 17 points for Manhattanville, which shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the field and 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from long range.
 
Manhattanville scored the game's first three points before a Zalescik 3-pointer capped a 9-2 run and gave the Mariners a four-point lead at the 14:37 mark. After the Valiants countered and regained a one-point lead, Vencel responded with six-straight points as USMMA opened a 17-12 advantage with 9:37 to play in the half.
 
USMMA still led, 23-20, with just 5:37 remaining, but the Valiants closed the half on an 11-0 run and took a 31-23 lead into the break.
 
Manhattanville extended its lead to 37-23 with consecutive 3-pointers to open the second half of action. After Bristow answered with a 3-pointer for USMMA, the Valiants followed with a quick 7-0 run that made it a 44-26 ballgame with 15:23 left in regulation. A pair of Spivey free throws and a Vencel slam pulled the Mariners back to within 14 points, but Manhattanville pushed its lead right back to 18, 48-30, with 13:19 still on the clock.
 
USMMA went on an 8-1 run to pull within 66-55 at the 2:54 mark, but would come no closer.
 
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