THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Jan. 8, 2025) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team was outscored, 27-15, from beyond the arc, a margin that proved to be the difference in the game as the Mariners fell on the road to SUNY Maritime, 69-57. USMMA dropped to 5-7 (1-2 Skyline), while the Privateers improved to 7-5 (3-0 Skyline).
 
Game Link

• Box Score

Senior Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) scored a team-high 19 points to lead USMMA, while classmate Isaac Vencel (Bloomington, Ind.) added a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. The Mariners shot 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the floor, but made just 5-of-20 3-pointers (25.0 percent) and 10-of-23 free throws (43.5 percent). The Mariners also committed 24 turnovers.
 
Jake Murphy made 4-of-7 3-pointers as part of a game-high 21-point effort to lead SUNY Maritime. The Privateers shot 41.1 percent (23-of-56) from the floor and made 9-of-24 3-pointers (37.5 percent).
 
USMMA scored the game's first bucket, but SUNY Maritime answered with 3s on consecutive possessions to grab a 6-2 lead. The Mariners promptly answered with a 7-0 run to take a 9-6 advantage with 12:48 to go. USMMA still led by three, 11-8, when the Privateers made two more 3-pointers as part of a 14-0 run that made it a 22-11 ballgame at the 5:11 mark.
 
Freshman Aaron Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) stopped the run with a 3-pointer, but SUNY Maritime countered with another 3-pointer and eventually pushed its lead back to 10, 27-17, with 3:41 to go. USMMA trailed by 11 before a Vencel layup and a 3-pointer from junior Clark Castleberry (Reston, Va.) made it 31-25 at the break.
 
USMMA scored the first five points of the second half, including a 3-pointer by freshman Mason Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.) that pulled the Mariners to within 31-30. USMMA still trailed by one, 39-38, when SUNY Maritime went on a 9-0 run that made it a 48-38 game with 10:37 left on the clock.
 
The Mariners answered with a 6-0 spurt that made it 48-44 following a D. Zalescik layup-and-one with 7:17 still to play. After SUNY Maritime pushed its lead back to seven, a Vencel free throw and a D. Zalescik 3 made it 51-48 with just 4:41 remaining. The Mariners still trailed by just five with 1:44 to play, but the Privateers pulled away for good with an 8-0 run that made it 67-54.
 
The Mariners return home to host St. Joseph's-Long Island at noon on Saturday, Jan. 11.
 
Sign Up To Receive Men's Basketball News Directly To Your E-Mail
If you would like to receive the latest news for the USMMA men's basketball team (or any other team at the Academy), including all press releases, 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!