NEWBURGH, N.Y. (Jan. 11, 2023) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team led by seven points with 8:05 remaining in the game, but Mount St. Mary rallied in the closing minutes for a 61-58 conference victory. USMMA moves to 5-9 (3-2 Skyline) on the season, while MSMC improves to 5-10 (2-4 Skyline).
Game File
Sophomore
Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) made 4-of-8 3-pointers and led three Mariners in double-figures with a game-high 17-point performance. Junior
Bryce Bristow (Plano, Texas) added 14 points on a 6-of-9 effort from the floor, while freshman
Caleb Hutchins (Buffalo, N.Y.) went 4-of-4 shooting as part of a 10-point night. USMMA shot 44.7 percent (21-of-47) from the floor, including a 43.5 percent (10-of-23) effort from distance, but committed 21 turnovers and was outrebounded by 13 (39-26).
Chris Yearwood had 13 points and nine boards to lead three in double-figures for the Knights. Connor Cyran scored 12 points and Jayden Figueroa added 10 points and nine rebounds. Mount St. Mary shot just 36.7 percent (22-of-60) from the floor, but went 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) from the line. The Knights benefitted from 20 fast break points and 11 second chance points.
Mount St. Mary quickly jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Bristow scored six points to lead a 12-0 run that gave USMMA a seven-point lead. Figueroa ended the rally with a 3-pointer for the Knights and the Mariners still led, 16-12, with 9:39 left in the half. However, it was then the home team's turn to go on a run of its own. Jayden Racca made a 3 to start things and a Figueroa layup capped an 11-0 spurt that put Mount St. Mary up, 23-16, at the 5:53 mark.
The teams continued to trade rallies as the half continued. USMMA took the lead back as Zalescik caught fire and made three 3-pointers as part of a 12-1 surge that put the Mariners back up by a 28-24 margin. The Knights then answered again by closing out the half with seven unanswered points to take a 31-28 lead into the locker room.
USMMA opened the scoring in the second half as a Bristow 3-pointer knotted the score at 31-31. The Knights retook the lead before junior
Josh Kauffman (East Providence, R.I.) was fouled on a made 3-pointer and converted the free throw for a four-point play that put the Mariners up, 37-35. The teams were locked at 39-apiece before Zalescik swished another 3-pointer with 14:53 to play.
After Mount St. Mary grabbed a 43-42 advantage, Bristow made a 3-pointer that kickstarted a 10-3 USMMA rally. Junior
DeMarcus Spivey (Ashburn, Va.) capped the run with a 3 of his own that gave the Mariners a six-point lead, 52-46, at the 9:13 mark. USMMA then matched its largest lead of the game, 55-48, on a 3-pointer from Hutchins with 8:05 left. Cyran followed with a layup-and-one for the Knights before adding another layup as the home team scored five-straight points to cut the lead to 55-53.
The Mariners still led by four, 58-54, with 1:59 to play before a Yearwood 3-pointer and a Figueroa layup put the home squad up for good, 59-58.
The Mariners return home and host Farmingdale State on Jan. 14 in a noon matchup at Liebertz Gymnasium. Live stats and a live video feed of the game will be available with links on
the USMMA Men's Basketball Schedule Page.
Receive USMMA Men's Basketball News Right To Your E-Mail!
If you would like to receive the latest news, including all press releases, for the USMMA men's basketball team (or any other team at the academy), sent directly to your e-mail,
fill out this form.
Follow USMMA Athletics On Social Media!
Be sure to follow USMMA Athletics on social media to get up-to-the-minute updates on your favorite teams! Start following today on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram and
YouTube!
