KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Jan. 11, 2025) – The U.S. Merchant Marine men's basketball team rebounded after trailing 17-0 to start the game, but ultimately lost to St. Joseph's-Long Island, 68-64, on Saturday afternoon inside the Liebertz Gymnasium. The Mariners are now 5-8 overall (1-3 Skyline), while the win sees St. Joe's improve to 3-10 (2-2 Skyline).
 
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• Box Score 

Senior Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) was extremely effective with 25 points (10-20 FG, 4-4 FT), while freshman Mason Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.) dropped 15 points (6-17 FG, 3-6 3P). Senior Isaac Vencel (Bloomington, Ind.) dished out six assists, and Zalescik had four helpers himself.
 
The Golden Eagles hit six of their first seven shots as they raced out to a 17-0 lead just five minutes into the first half. Drew Zalescik finally got USMMA on the board with a three-pointer, helping the Mariners chip away and trim the deficit to 25-12 at the 10:12 mark in the first half.
 
After taking a big punch from the Golden Eagles to begin the afternoon, King's Point landed their own shot. Freshman Colin Hart (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) poured in nine quick points as part of a 15-2 stretch for USMMA, with Hart eventually connecting from deep to tie the game at 27-27. After getting themselves in a big hole early, Merchant Marine went into the half down just three points, 36-33.
 
Lavergne's three pointer gave USMMA a 40-38 edge early in the second half, before St. Joseph's hit back with a seven point swing to make it 45-40 Golden Eagles.
 
The middle chunk of the second half sped by thanks to both defenses locking in, before the Mariners leveled the game at 46-46, with 8:15 to play. A minute later, Vencel hit a pair of free throws to level the score once again at 50-50.
 
St. Joseph's found themselves up 62-55 with under two minutes to play, but a pair of three-point makes from the freshman Lavergne kept the Mariners in it, but down 64-61 with 47 seconds remaining. Isaac Vencel then grabbed a steal that led to a layup for Zalescik, and Merchant Marine trailed 64-63 with 18 seconds left.
 
However, the Golden Eagles hit their free throws down the stretch, to salt away a 68-64 win for St. Joseph's - Long Island.
 
Next up for the Mariners, they hit the road to take on the Farmingdale State Rams, on Wednesday January 15th at the Walter A. Lynch Sports Center.
 
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