When and Where:

February 10, 2024 - Kings Point, NY

Records:

St. Joseph's (L.I.), 11-12, 5-9 Skyline

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 9-13, 6-8 Skyline

Results:

On Saturday afternoon, the St. Joseph's University (L.I.) men's basketball team dropped a Skyline Conference contest to USMMA, 78-59. 

Top performers:

• Junior Xavier Allen led the Golden Eagles with 18 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals 

• Junior Alec Tabada added 12 points, six rebounds, one assist, one block, and three steals

• Senior Ryan McNeely scored 12 points off the bench to go along with three assists and one rebound

• Drew Zalescik of USMMA finished with a double-double with a game-high 25 points and 15 rebounds

• Merchant Marine's Demarcus Spivey and Issac Vencel tallied 16 and 14 points, respectively 

How it happened:

• Allen opened the game for SJLI on a made jumper to score the first points of the game, as USMMA responded by going on a 20-0 run in the first seven minutes of the game to take a commanding lead 

• The Golden Eagles responded by answering back with a 10-0 run of their own over the next minute of play that was capped by another Allen jump shot to cut the Mariners lead to eight points (20-12)

• McNeely provided St. Joseph's with a much needed offensive spark, scoring nine points in the first half as SJLI cut the Mariner's lead to seven with just under five minutes to play in the first half

• Over the next four minutes of action, the Merchant Marine Academy rallied behind an 11-2 run before an Allen jumper ended the run to close out the half with the Mariners ahead by 14 (40-26)

• A Tabada steal and layup opened the second half scoring, but again USMMA answered, scoring a quick six points to build their lead to 18 just four minutes into the second half

• Zalescik helped the Merchant Marine Academy claim their largest lead of the game of 21 points off two consecutive offensive rebounds, leading to a layup

• As the Golden Eagles looked for anything to get back into the game, a steal and fastbreak dunk for Tabada cut the lead to 17, but again, the Mariners responded, keeping a comfortable double-digit lead

• USMMA was able to hold on to a substantial lead for the rest of the game, claiming a 19-point victory 

Notes:

• St. Joseph's shot 33.9% from the field and 23.5% from three-point range

• USMMA posted a 45.3% shooting percentage overall an 26.3% from three-point territory

• The Golden Eagles out-scored U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 25-5 off the bench

• The Mariners had 46 points in the paint to SJLI's 24

• USMMA held the advantage in rebounds, 50-32

Next up:

The Golden Eagles return to action on Tuesday, February 13, when they host Manhattanville for a Skyline Conference matchup at 7:00 pm.