Box Score
 
NEWBURGH, N.Y. (Dec. 1, 2021) – In a back-and-forth affair, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team could not overcome a late deficit and lost to Skyline North Division foe Mount St. Mary on the road Wednesday night, 67-66. The setback drops the Mariners' record to 2-3 (0-1 Skyline), while the Knights improve to 2-5 (1-0 Skyline) in victory.
 
The game featured four lead changes in the first half and then three more in the second. In the opening stanza, play was pretty even through the first 10 minutes before USMMA pulled out to a game-best 13-point lead, 27-14, after a 14-0 run. MSMC fought back to within six at halftime.
 
In the second half, the Mariners built a lead up to nine points early, 39-30, however the Knights kept chipping away and eventually took a 48-47 lead at 11:09. The hosts wound up turning a nine-point deficit into an eight-point advantage in just under 10 minutes, as they held a 59-51 lead at 7:25.
 
Despite their best efforts, Merchant Marine was unable to get the lead back the rest of the night, coming within one point on four separate occasions, including with under 20 seconds to go, however they missed on their last attempt and time ran out.
 
Four Mariners scored in double-figures, with senior Jack Bucher (Carlisle, Pa.) leading all players with 15 points and classmate Blaine McDonough (Marietta, Ga.) adding 12. Both Bucher and McDonough also brought down a team-best six rebounds each. Sophomore Bryce Bristow (Plano, Texas) and junior Brandon Bomboy (Yorktown, Va.) both scored 10 points apiece.
 
For the Knights, grad student Paul Sienke and sophomore Connor Cyran both scored 14 points and dished out four assists each, while freshman J.P. Egan chipped in with 11 points. Freshman Jayden Figueroa recorded a game-high nine rebounds and also contributed offensively with eight points.
 
The Mariners will host arch-rival Coast Guard this Saturday, Dec. 4. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. after the women's basketball game that precedes it at the Liebertz Gymnasium Live stats and a live video feed of the game will be available with links posted on the USMMA Men's Basketball Schedule Page.
 
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