KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Jan. 28, 2026) – The USMMA men's basketball team lost at home to visiting Sarah Lawrence College, 75-53, on Wednesday night at the Liebertz Gymnasium. The defeat drops the Mariners' record to 7-11 (4-5 Skyline), while the Gryphons improve to 11-7 (8-1 Skyline) with the win.
 
Game Link

• Box Score 

Freshman Richard Sykes Jr. (Tampa, Fla.) led three Mariners in double-digits on the night with a game-high 14 points. Sophomores Tim Barton (Waldorf, Md.) and Aaron Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively, as that pair along with freshman Jack Flannery (McKinney, Texas) tied for the team-high with five rebounds. Flannery finished the game with nine points and three steals.
 
USMMA opened the game with energy on both ends, taking control early as the Mariners built a quick cushion behind inside finishes and transition chances. Merchant Marine pushed the margin to eight midway through the first half and still held multiple leads as the pace settled, but Sarah Lawrence began to chip away with timely perimeter shooting and second-chance opportunities that steadily narrowed the gap.
 
The momentum flipped late in the half as turnovers and extended possessions allowed SLC to surge in front. After the score was tied several times, the Gryphons closed the period on a decisive run, using points in the paint and trips to the free-throw line to turn a deficit into a double-digit lead by the break, sending KP into halftime trailing 38-26.
 
That stretch carried over into the second half, as Sarah Lawrence quickly added to its lead with early baskets and pressure defense. Merchant Marine generated offense through drives and offensive rebounds and briefly steadied the game, but the Gryphons consistently answered each push, extending the margin and maintaining control the rest of the way to secure the road win.
 
USMMA shot 43.2 percent from the floor but struggled from the perimeter (2-for-19, 10.5 percent), while Sarah Lawrence connected at a higher overall rate (46.7 percent) and knocked down eight three-pointers. The Gryphons also held an edge on the glass, outrebounding the Mariners 33-31 overall, and held the edge in points off turnovers (22-11) and second-chance points (17-11).
 
Sarah Lawrence was paced by Andrew Kim with 12 points, four assists, and two steals, while Braden Burman added 11 points on efficient shooting, including 2-for-2 from three. Eamon Kelly finished with 10 points and three steals, Thomas Matonti chipped in nine off the bench, and Chris Dougherty anchored the glass with a game-high nine rebounds to help fuel the Gryphons' balanced attack.
 
Up next, Merchant Marine will travel to Manhattan to face the #1 team in the Skyline Conference, Yeshiva University, this Saturday night, Jan. 31, beginning at 8:30 p.m. at the Maccabees' Max Stern Athletic Center.
 
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