BRONXVILLE, N.Y. (Jan. 18, 2025) – The U.S. Merchant Marine men's basketball team trailed Sarah Lawrence College by 16 points at halftime and then by 10 points with just 3:40 remaining in regulation before storming back to force overtime on a buzzer-beater and eventually completing the comeback victory over the Gryphons in OT, 76-73, on Saturday up at SLC's Campbell Sports Center. The win improved the Mariners' record to 6-9 (2-4 Skyline), while Sarah Lawrence fell to 9-6 overall (5-1 Skyline) as they suffer their first conference defeat of the season.
 
Game Link

• Box Score
• WATCH: Drew Zalesick's Put-Back Buzzer-Beater To Force Overtime
• WATCH: Drew Zalesick's Go-Ahead Put-Back Layup In Closing Seconds Of OT 

Senior Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) scored a career-high 36 points, part of a double-double effort as he also tied for the game-high with 16 rebounds. He drilled two put-back baskets in the dying seconds of both regulation (a buzzer-beater that forced overtime) as well as the extra stanza (which stood as the game-winner).
 
Merchant Marine struggled from the field in the first half (8-for-29, 27.6%) and fell behind by 16 at halftime, 34-18.
 
The Mariners shot much better in the second half (14-for-25, 56%), but still faced a 10-point deficit with 3:40 left in regulation.
 
That's when the Blue and Gray rattled off an improbable 12-2 run down the stretch that ended in one of the most dramatic scenes in recent program history. Freshman Mason Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.) went to the line with the Mariners down two and just 2.4 ticks left. The rookie missed the front end and then intentionally missed the second with the hopes of an offensive board. It was Zalescik who provided just that and his put-back layup felt like it took forever to go in, and it did so just as the buzzer was going off to fire up the visitors' bench and force overtime.
 
USMMA hit the first basket in the extra five and then never trailed the remainder of the day, but the game still came down to the wire. A long three-pointer by the Gryphons tied the game at 72-72 with just 27 seconds left.
 
Senior Isaac Vencel (Bloomington, Ind.) brought the ball up the court in the ensuing possession and waited as time wound down before deciding to cut down the lane and attempt a late go-ahead layup. It was just a bit too strong, but Zalescik was Johnny-on-the-spot once again, grabbing the offensive rebound and putting it right back up and in to give the Mariners' a 74-72 lead with just 1.6 seconds left.
 
SLC then went to the line and missed its first free-throw. The Gryphons made the second freebie to make it 74-73, and quickly fouled on the in-bound, but freshman Max Koeppl (Plano, Texas) sealed the victory by making both of his free-throws.
 
Zalescik filled out the scoresheet with four blocks, three steals and two assists. Vencel finished with 15 points and junior Clark Castleberry (Reston, Va.) contributed 11.
 
Four players scored in double figures for the Gryphons with Dean Furlong leading the way with 15 points. Braden Burman drained 14 and Chris Dougherty and Eamon Kelly both added 12 points apiece, with Dougherty tying Zalescik for the game-high with 16 rebounds.
 
The Mariners will look to keep the momentum into their next game, at home against Mount St. Vincent on Tuesday night, Jan. 21. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Liebertz Gymnasium.
 
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