PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (Feb. 19, 2025) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team lost its Skyline Black Division matchup on the road against St. Joseph's-Long Island on Wednesday night, 76-71, at the Golden Eagles' Danzi Gymnasium. The setback drops the Mariners' record to 9-15 (5-10 Skyline), while SJLI improves to 11-13 (10-5 Skyline) with the win.
 
Game Link

• Box Score 

Four players scored in double-figures for the Mariners with senior Isaac Vencel (Bloomington, Ind.) leading the way with a team-best 20 points thanks in large part to five 3-pointers. Junior Clark Castleberry (Reston, Va.) had 19 points, while senior Drew Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) added 17 to go along with a team-high seven rebounds. Freshman Mason Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.) drained 12 points in the losing effort.
 
St. Joe's only trailed after Vencel hit the first bucket of the game, and then the hosts went on to lead by as many as 13 points with just over six minutes to play in the first half.
 
Early in the second half, twice Castleberry hit baskets that brought the Mariners to within three points, including at 15:15 when a layup by the big man made it 41-38 in favor of the Golden Eagles. However, SJLI quickly went on a 12-2 run to take a 15-point lead, 53-40 at 12:01.
 
The Golden Eagles led by 15 a couple more times throughout the second half, including at 6:03 when a 3-pointer made it 64-49.
 
The Mariners wouldn't go quietly, however, as the chipped away at the St. Joseph's lead, getting it down to single digits in the closing minute-plus. A couple of 3's by Vencel in the final 10 seconds, including one with four ticks left, brought the game to its final score of 76-71.
 
Matthew Coletti scored 22 points for the Golden Eagles to lead all players on the night. Alec Tabada added 14 points and AJ Esposito had 13 off the bench. Spencer Malloy pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, while also dishing out a game-best five assists.
 
Merchant Marine closes out the regular season this Saturday, Feb. 22, when they play host to the #1 team in the Skyline Conference, Farmingdale State. Prior to the 1 p.m. tip-off at the Liebertz Gym, the Mariners will pay tribute to their three graduating seniors with a special Senior Day ceremony.
 
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