NEW YORK – Reed Buck scored 20 points to lead four players in double figures to boost the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy to a 72-45 non-league men's basketball victory over the City College of New York on Tuesday night.

Bryan Lynch came off the bench to score 12 points for the Mariners (4-4). Kevin Kerr contributed 10 points and a season-high 11 assists and Zach Karczewski added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Buck and Karczewski each scored eight points in the opening half as the visitors grabbed a 32-17 lead.

The Beavers enjoyed a 5-4 edge before the Mariners reeled off eight consecutive points to grab a 12-5 advantage and never looked back. Buck scored four points during that span and Denver Effland and Karczewski added two baskets apiece.

As it turned out, Kings Point outscored the hosts, 28-12, for the rest of the half to take a 32-17 halftime lead.

The Mariners certainly had their shooting shoes on Tuesday night, converting 53.7 percent of their field-goal attempts (29-54), compared to CCNY's 28.3 percent (13-46).

Buck emjoyed one of his best nights from the field, sinking 8-of-10 attempts and another 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. His teammates followed his lead as Effland (eight points in 19 minutes) was 4-of-6, Karczewski 5-of-8 and Kerr 3-of-6.

The Mariners made more turnovers than CCNY, 16-11, but it was in the rebounding department where the visitors really dominated. They grabbed 46 off the boards, compared to the Beavers' 19.

Matthew Faso led the Beavers (1-9) with nine points and Hector Hernandez and Israel Vickers added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Mariners host Vaughn College at Liebertz Gymnasium in Kings Point, N.Y. at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Photo: Kevin Kerr scored 10 points and dished out 11 assists in the Mariners' win. Photo by Shawn Antonelli.