Box Score
 
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. (Nov. 20, 2021) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team lost on the first night of the Williams College Purple & Gold Classic to Salem State by the final score of 64-54. The Mariners' record drops to 1-2 in defeat, while the Vikings improve to 4-0.
 
USMMA Notables

• Three players scored in double-figures, as sophomore DeMarcus Spivey (Ashburn, Va.) led the way with 17 points.
• Seniors Jack Bucher (Carlisle, Pa.) and Blaine McDonough (Marietta, Ga.) both added 11 points apiece, with McDonough also leading the Mariners with seven rebounds.

How It Happened

• The game was extremely close in the first half, with neither team building up a lead of more than four points. The lead changed 10 times throughout the opening 20 minutes and the score was tied nine different times.
• Salem State grabbed a lead at 14:27 of the second half that the Vikings didn't wind up relinquishing the rest of the day.
• Numerous times the remainder of the game Salem St. built up multiple-possession leads and the Mariners fought back to just one possession until the final two minutes when the Vikings started to pull away.
• The stat lines were pretty close between the two teams, as Salem State held narrow advantages in rebounds, 41-38, and turnovers, with 11 for the Vikings to 12 of USMMA. Salem St. did have a six blocks and seven steals on the evening, and held a 14-3 advantage in points off of turnovers.
• The Mariners shot 30.0% from the field (18-for-60) to the Vikings' 38.5% (20-for-52).

Salem State's Leaders

• The Vikings also had three players scored double-digits, with grad student Sean Bryan leading all players on the night with 26 points and eight rebounds.
• Sophomore Josiah Green chipped in with 13 points and senor Conner Byrne had 10 with a game-high four blocks and three steals.

Up Next

• The Mariners will close out the Purple & Gold Classic on Sunday when they take on the Colonels of Curry College beginning at 1 p.m. at Williams' Chandler Gymnasium. Any live links for the game will be posted on the USMMA Men's Basketball Schedule Page before tipoff.

 
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