KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Jan. 2, 2025) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team led by six points with 14:46 left in the game, but surrendered a 14-0 run and fell to Bard, 66-58, in non-conference action. USMMA dropped to 4-6, while Bard improved to 7-3.
 
Game Link

• Box Score

Senior Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) made 11-of-23 field goals and finished with a team-high 23 points to pace USMMA. Junior Clark Castleberry (Reston, Va.) added 11 points, while freshman Mason Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.) made 2-of-5 3-pointers as part of a nine-point effort. The Mariners shot 34.3 percent (23-of-67) from the floor and made 5-of-31 3-pointers (16.1 percent). USMMA also committed only 11 turnovers, while forcing 18.
 
Lazaro Panagiotounis scored a game-high 24 points to lead three players in double-figure for Bard. The Raptors shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the floor and made 8-of-23 3-pointers (34.8 percent), while also posting a +8 margin (47-39) on the glass.
 
Lavergne made a pair of early 3s as the Mariners jumped out to an 8-5 lead at the 13:39 mark. After Bard made it a one-point game, Zalescik scored six points to lead an 8-2 run that put USMMA up, 16-9, with 8:55 remaining. The Raptors eventually pulled to within four points, but jumpers by freshman Max Koeppl (Plano, Texas) and Castleberry gave the Mariners their largest lead of the game, a 22-14 advantage at the 6:21 mark.
 
Bard, however, answered with a pair of 3-pointers as part of an 8-0 run that leveled the score at 22-22 with just 5:09 to play in the half. Castleberry ended the scoreless stretch with a 3-pointer, but Bard followed with a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession. The Mariners later trailed by one when Zalescik buried a 3-pointer to send the Mariners into halftime with a 28-26 lead.
 
The teams were tied twice in the early stages of the second half before Zalescik scored four points as part of a 6-0 run that put USMMA up, 38-32, with 14:46 left in regulation. Bard responded promptly, however, and used a 14-0 run to take a 46-38 lead at the 10:50 mark.
 
USMMA trailed by 11 with 6:58 to go before a 3-pointer from freshman Colin Hart (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) highlighted a 7-0 run that pulled the Mariners to within four points, 53-49, at the 4:45 mark. USMMA still trailed by four when the Raptors went on a 7-0 run of their own to regain the 11-point cushion, 62-51, with just 1:35 on the clock.
 
The Mariners travel to Old Westbury for a noon contest on Saturday, Jan. 4.
 
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