PURCHASE, N.Y. (Jan. 24, 2026) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team dropped a 61–51 decision to Manhattanville on Saturday afternoon in Skyline Conference play. The Mariners moved to 7-10 overall (4-4 Skyline) while the Valiants improved to 9-9 overall (4-4 Skyline) with the win.
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Sophomore Aaron Zalescik (Lambertville, N.J.) led the way for USMMA, putting up his second straight double-double with 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to go along with two steals. Freshman Jack Flannery (McKinney, Texas) and sophomore Mason Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.) added nine points apiece. Sophomore Tim Barton (Waldorf, Md.) chipped in with six points and dished out two assists while freshman Richard Sykes Jr. (Tampa, Fla.) contributed four points, two steals, and a block.
Merchant Marine won the rebounding battle 42–33, but the Valiants capitalized at the stripe (11-of-16) and finished at 44.0 percent (22-of-50) and 35.7 percent from deep (6-of-19).
Manhattanville struck first with back-to-back three-pointers at 18:30 and 16:53 to build an early 11–3 lead. Merchant Marine answered behind Barton, who scored in the paint at 17:01, and Lavergne, who converted a fast-break layup at 14:59 to cut the deficit to 13–8. Freshman Talan Dawkins (South Riding, Va.) finished inside at 14:23 to make it 13–10, and after the Valiants pushed the margin to nine at 11:27, the visitors responded with a Sykes Jr. layup at 10:39 and freshman Noah Brown's (Hedgesville, W.Va.) three at 9:17 to pull within 19–15. Merchant Marine continued to chip away late in the half, tying the game at 25–25 on Zalescik's dunk at 5:35, then trimming it to one at 2:45 on sophomore Colin Hart's (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) finish in the paint. Manhattanville carried a 31–28 edge into halftime after a late bucket at 2:20.
The Valiants opened the second half with a 9–2 push, extending the lead to 37–30 on a fast-break layup at 17:14. Zalescik scored and drew contact at 16:40 to cut it to four, but Manhattanville answered with free throws and a transition three at 13:43 to push the margin to 44–35. Flannery knocked down a three at 12:12 to make it 44–38, and Zalescik hit a pair at the line at 11:03 to pull within 46–40. Manhattanville created separation again with a three at 10:17 and a finish in the paint at 9:01 to make it 51–40, then held USMMA to 22.9 percent shooting after the break. Merchant Marine continued to battle on the glass and got within nine late at 51–42 on Sykes Jr.'s layup at 8:44, but Manhattanville maintained control down the stretch to close out the 61–51 result.
Isiah Middleton scored a game-high tied 14 points while John Ranaghan and Carlos Urena added 12 points each for Manhattanville, while Daniel Marinaccio chipped in 10 points off the bench.
The Blue and Gray hit the hardwood on Wednesday, Jan. 28, against Sarah Lawrence in Skyline action.
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