BRYN MAWR, Pa. (Dec. 20, 2025) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team came up just short in a tightly contested non-conference matchup against Rosemont College, 66-62 at Hirsh Community Center on Saturday afternoon. The Mariners drop to 3–7 on the season, while the Ravens improve to 2–8 with the win.
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Sophomore Tim Barton (Waldorf, Md.) and freshman Jack Flannery (McKinney, Texas) led the Merchant Marine offense with a team-high 13 points each. Flannery added a team-best six rebounds, and freshman Richard Sykes Jr. (Tampa, Fla.) dished out a career high four assists.
Merchant Marine shot 40.9 percent from the field (18-of-44) and 29.4 percent from three-point range (5-of-17), while converting 21-of-28 attempts at the free-throw line. Rosemont countered by shooting 47.7 percent overall and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. The Blue and Gray finished with 16 points off turnovers and 21 bench points. USMMA was edged on the glass 31–25.
The game featured 13 lead changes and five ties, with neither side able to build sustained separation throughout the afternoon.
Merchant Marine struck first just 41 seconds into the contest, as sophomore Mason Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.) knocked down a three-pointer at 19:19 to give the Mariners an early 3–0 lead then Flannery and senior Clark Castleberry (Reston, Va.) converted inside to help the visitors build a 7–3 advantage at 17:16. Rosemont countered with perimeter shooting to briefly move in front, but Lavergne finished a fast-break layup at 14:38 to reclaim the lead, 9–8. The teams traded baskets through the middle of the half, with freshman Talan Dawkins (South Riding, Va.) drilling a three at 8:32 to make it 16–14, and Castleberry answering inside at 6:32 to cut the deficit to 20–18. The Ravens used a late shooting surge to pull ahead, but USMMA closed the half at the free-throw line with Sykes Jr. knocking down four straight foul shots in the final 1:08, to trim the margin to 32–31 at halftime.
The Blue and Gray opened the second half by reclaiming the lead, as Barton scored in the paint at 19:46 to make it 33–32, and Lavergne followed with another finish inside at 18:23 to extend the edge to 37–35. Flannery connected from long range at 15:35, pushing the Mariners in front 40–37, but Rosemont answered with a three-pointer of its own at 15:06 to even the score at 40. The back-and-forth continued deep into the half. Barton converted at the line at 3:46 to give Merchant Marine a 56–52 lead, and Flannery finished inside at 2:54 to make it 58–54. The Ravens responded with consecutive baskets to regain the advantage, but Barton answered again in the paint at 1:26, putting the Mariners back on top 60–59.
Rosemont converted from the line to move ahead 63–60 with 41 seconds remaining before Lavergne attacked the rim for a layup 27 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 63–62. The Ravens would seal it at the free-throw line in the final seconds to secure the 66–62 win.
Three Rosemont players scored in double figures on the afternoon as Zaki Gomez led the offense with a game-high 18 points, seven boards, and five assists. Ty Jones and Brandon Moore chipped in with 14 points apiece.
Merchant Marine returns to competition in the New Year on Saturday, Jan. 3, in Skyline Conference action against Old Westbury. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
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