KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Feb. 7, 2026) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team erased a 13-point deficit in the final two minutes to take a late lead, but ultimately lost in a tight Skyline Conference matchup to St. Joseph's-Long Island, 77-76, on Saturday afternoon at the Liebertz Gymnasium. The setback moves the Mariners to 7-14 overall (4-8 Skyline), while the Golden Eagles improve to 10-11 (6-6 Skyline) with the road victory.
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Freshman
Jack Flannery (McKinney, Texas) had a remarkable 30 points on 9-of-16 shooting with six 3-pointers to go along with a team-high nine rebounds and three steals. Two other Mariners produced double-digit scoring efforts, as fellow plebe
Richard Sykes Jr. (Tampa, Fla.) also recorded a career-high with 19 points and a game-high six assists and sophomore
Mason Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.) added 10 points including a clutch 3-pointer in the final minute of play.
Merchant Marine and St. Joseph's-Long Island played a tight, back-and-forth first half, with neither side able to create separation for long stretches. USMMA briefly grabbed momentum behind inside baskets and timely three-point shooting, but the Golden Eagles consistently answered, using transition chances and free throws to keep the pressure on. By the break, St. Joe's held a slim advantage after capitalizing on late possessions and second-chance opportunities to edge in front.
The second half saw St. Joseph's-L.I. push its lead to double digits as USMMA struggled to convert on several open looks early, allowing the visitors to build what grew to a 13-point margin. The Mariners, however, chipped away steadily, forcing turnovers, getting stops, and scoring in the paint to claw back into the game. That surge culminated in a frantic closing stretch where Kings Point erased the entire deficit and surged ahead in the final half-minute, seemingly completing the comeback.
After USMMA briefly took the lead with under 30 seconds remaining on a 3-pointer by Flannery, the Golden Eagles had the final response, converting a driving layup with just 1.3 seconds on the clock to reclaim the advantage. Kings Point advanced the ball quickly and launched a desperation attempt at the buzzer, but it came up short, sealing a heartbreaking one-point decision in favor of St. Joseph's-Long Island after a dramatic, late-game swing.
St. Joseph's-L.I. finished with a slight edge in overall shooting (42.4% to 41.0%) and controlled the glass by a 45-30 margin, while also getting to the free-throw line more frequently and converting 21-of-28 attempts. The Mariners countered by hitting 13 three-pointers and holding advantages in points off turnovers (19-8) despite limited second-chance production.
St. Joseph's-Long Island was led by a pair of 21-point scorers, as AJ Esposito went 6-for-8 from the field with nine rebounds, while Kenny Rodriguez added 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, five assists, and a team-high 10 rebounds for a double-double. Anthony Todd chipped in 16 points with seven boards, and TayShaun Hawkins added 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists as the Golden Eagles finished with a balanced effort on the glass and at the free-throw line.
Up next, the Mariners will travel to face Old Westbury on Tuesday night, Feb. 10, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Panthers' Clark Athletic Center.
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