BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Nov. 26, 2024) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team shot 42.3 percent from the floor, but allowed 12 3-pointers and saw its three-game winning streak snapped with a 66-50 defeat at Brooklyn College. USMMA fell to 3-2, while Brooklyn improved to 2-5.
 
Game Link

• Box Score 

Senior Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) went 10-of-18 from the floor to lead the Mariners with a game-high 23 points, while junior Clark Castleberry (Reston, Va.) finished 9-of-11 from the floor as part of a 19-point effort. USMMA shot 42.3 percent from the floor (22-of-52), but made just 4-of-18 3-pointers (22.2 percent) and committed 17 turnovers.
 
Malik Dale made 6-of-14 3-pointers as part of a 22-point effort to lead the Bulldogs. Brooklyn shot 38.7 percent (24-of-62) from the floor and made 12-of-34 3-pointers (35.3 percent), while holding a slight edge on the glass (+3, 37-34).
 
USMMA jumped out to an early four-point lead after Zalescik opened the scoring with a pair of buckets. The Bulldogs responded with a trio of 3-pointers to go up by five, 9-4, at the 16:24 mark. The Mariners trailed by six when Brooklyn went on a 6-0 run that made it a 12-point game, 25-13, with 6:34 to go.
 
The Mariners closed to within 10 twice before Brooklyn's seventh 3-pointer of the half made it 36-21 with exactly two minutes left. Freshman Mason Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.) made a late 3-pointer and USMMA trailed, 36-25, at the break.
 
Castleberry opened the second half with a layup before a Lavergne steal led to a Zalescik layup that pulled the Mariners to within seven. Brooklyn pushed its lead back to 10 with a 3-pointer, but Castleberry answered with a 3-pointer of his own and USMMA trailed, 39-32, with 16:57 to play.
 
Brooklyn scored the next six points to jumpstart a 16-2 run that gave the Bulldogs their largest lead of the game, 55-34, with 8:03 on the clock. USMMA answered with a run of its own as a Zalescik 3-pointer capped a 9-0 spurt that pulled the Mariners back to within 12, 55-43 with 5:15 to go. The Bulldogs immediately responded with another 3-pointer to push the lead back to 15 and the Mariners would come no closer the rest of the way.
 
The Mariners are off until Wednesday, Dec. 4, when they travel to Coast Guard for a 7 p.m. game.
 
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!