Hall of Fame
The 1988-89 U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men’s basketball team was the first team in program history to qualify for the NCAA National Championship Tournament. Under head coach Tim Cohane, the Mariners became just the second service academy ever to receive a bid to a National Tournament behind Navy. At the time of its induction, the team still sits atop the academy’s record book for most wins in a season with 25, least losses in a season with three and best winning percentage (.893). The group, led by senior captains John Doherty and Shane Dowling, started the season with 17-straight victories and earned a Top-20 Ranking in the national polls for the first time ever. Kings Point finished the regular season with a 24-2 record and earned the #2 seed in the NCAA East Regional hosted by Buffalo State. The Mariners could not get past perennial powerhouse SUNY Potsdam in the opening round, but ended the season with a victory over the College of Staten Island in the Regional Consolation Game.
