Throggs Neck, NY – Senior forward Gerard Danzy (Monroeville, Ala./Hillcrest)’s (Monroeville, AL/.Hillcrest) overtime heroics helped lift the Privateers of Maritime College over the Trailblazers of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 83-78, Tuesday evening in men’s basketball action at Riesenberg Gymnasium in Throggs Neck, NY.

 

It was all Maritime in the first half, as the Privateers hustled their way to a 33-27 lead at the half. However, the Trailblazers came out on fire in the second as senior guard Thad Broughton (Peabody, MA/St. Mary’s of Lynn) erupted for 19 points, shooting 4-of-5 from downtown. Broughton would go on to finish the game with a team high of 30 points.

 

Behind the post play of senior center Robert Benton (Montgomery, Ala./G.W. Carver) (Montgomery, AL/GW Carver), Maritime was able to regain control of the game after trailing by as much as eight points. His presence in the post resulted in several second shots for the Privateers and also led to the free throws that tied up the game to send it into overtime late in the second half.

 

Danzy started off the overtime period with a quick lay-up which was followed by a steal and another basket to put the Privateers up by two. After a couple of quick baskets from Broughton, Danzy would hit a shot from beyond the arc to give the Privateers a 78-76 lead with 1:28 left in the game.

 

The next trip up the court for MCLA resulted in a charge on Broughton, a call that would lead to a couple of Benton free throws, sealing the Trailblazer’s fate.

 

Benton was the top scorer for Maritime in both the first and second halves and was tied with Danzy for highest in the overtime. He finished the game with 26 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

 

Danzy finished the game with 19 points and four steals, while junior forward Dana Townsend (Queens, NY/Cardozo) rounded out the scoring with 12 points.

 

Local product, Brandon Pender (Queens, NY/Lawrence Woodmere), finished with 12 points and 12 boards for the Trailblazers, while senior guard JP Quintal (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) had 15 on the night.

 

Today’s victory gives the Privateers their first win of the 2005-06 season and now puts them at 1-2 overall. The Trailblazers suffer their third defeat of the season and now stand at 1-3 on the year. Maritime returns to action on Thursday when they host the Bears of Saint Joseph’s of Brooklyn with a 7pm tip-off.

 

-MARITIME-