KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Jan. 7, 2026) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team lost to Skyline rival SUNY Maritime, 69-66, on Wednesday night at the Liebertz Gymnasium. The defeat drops the Mariners' record to 4-8 (1-2 Skyline), while the Privateers improve to 6-6 (2-1 Skyline) with the win.
 
Game Link

• Box Score 

Sophomore Mason Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.) led all players in the game with a career-high 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting to go along with five assists. Three other players scored in double-figures for the Mariners, as sophomore Tim Barton (Waldorf, Md.) drained 12 points, classmate Aaron Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) added 11 and freshman Jack Flannery (McKinney, Texas) contributed 10 points while also bringing down a team-best seven rebounds.
 
USMMA opened the rivalry matchup with early energy, forcing turnovers and converting in transition to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Maritime settled in quickly, however, and began to control the tempo, using steady interior scoring to build a 10-point advantage late in the first half. The Mariners responded with a strong close to the opening 20 minutes, tightening defensively and stringing together baskets late to reclaim momentum and take a slim 28-27 lead into the break.
 
The second half featured constant swings, with neither side able to create sustained separation as the lead changed hands repeatedly. KP answered every push by the Privateers, tying the game multiple times and briefly regaining the lead behind balanced scoring and improved ball movement. The game remained tight through the middle portion of the half, highlighted by defensive stops and transition opportunities on both ends.
 
Down the stretch, SUNY Maritime made the decisive run, turning a one-point game into a two-possession margin inside the final three minutes. USMMA continued to battle, trimming the deficit and knocking down a late three in the closing seconds, but the Mariners were unable to fully close the gap as the Privateers held on for the narrow 69-66 decision.
 
USMMA shot 46.4 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from three-point range, while SUNY Maritime finished at 43.9 percent overall and 25.0 percent from beyond the arc. The Privateers held a 39-24 rebounding advantage and scored more consistently in the paint, holding a 42-28 edge, while both teams matched each other with 12 fast-break points. The game was tightly contested throughout, featuring 13 lead changes and seven ties, with Maritime ultimately closing out the final possessions to secure the narrow decision.
 
Sophomore Jake Devaney led SUNY Maritime with a game-high 22 points, while classmate Zion Williams added 16 points on efficient shooting. Senior Tyler Anderson finished with 10 points and eight assists, and classmate Evan Block chipped in 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds to help anchor the Privateers' effort.
 
The Mariners return to action this coming Saturday, Jan. 10, when they host Skyline Conference foe Farmingdale State. Tip-off is scheduled for 12-noon at the Liebertz Gymnasium.
 
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