KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Dec. 14, 2024) – Senior
Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) reached the 1,000-point mark and had one of two 20-point games, but the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team was defeated by St. Joseph's-Brooklyn, 69-61. USMMA fell to 4-4 (0-1 Skyline), while St. Joseph's-Brooklyn improved to 4-6 (1-0 Skyline).
Game Links
Zalescik had 984 career-points entering the game and made 8-of-16 field goals as part of a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double. Junior
Clark Castleberry (Reston, Va.) went 10-of-16 from the floor and scored a career-high 21 points. The Mariners shot 50.0 percent (16-of-32) in the first half, but went just 10-of-36 (27.8 percent) after the break to finish at 38.2 percent for the game. USMMA did post a 22-11 edge in points off turnovers.
Colin Mills scored 16 points, while Justin Nazon had six points, 17 rebounds and seven assists to lead St. Joseph's-Brooklyn. The Bears shot 42.6 percent (26-of-61) from the floor and made 11-of-26 3-pointers (42.3 percent).
The Bears made three 3-pointers to jump out to an early 13-6 lead at the 14:38 mark. Freshman
Max Koeppl (Plano, Texas) then buried a 3-pointer that made it a two-point game and later added another trey as part of a 9-0 run that put the Mariners up, 20-15, with 8:22 to go. After the Bears stopped the run with a 3-pointer, Castleberry drained a 3 on the next possession before the Bears made another 3-pointer to cut the USMMA lead to two, 23-21.
USMMA closed the half on a 12-3 run to take a 37-27 lead into the break.
St. Joseph's-Brooklyn opened the second half on a 17-3 run that put the Bears up, 44-40, with 13:21 to go. The Mariners responded and retook a one-point lead with a quick 5-0 run, but the Bears answered with a 9-0 run of their own and led, 53-45, with just 7:48 remaining in regulation.
The Bears eventually led by as many as 14 points, 66-52, at the 4:43 mark and the Mariners would come no closer than seven the rest of the way.
The Mariners host TCNJ in non-conference action at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night, Dec. 18.
