Throggs Neck, NY – It was an old fashioned barn burner for the Privateers and the Cougars of Medgar Evers College last night that saw the Privateers gain a one point victory off of a free throw that swished through the net with all zero’s showing on the game clock. There was just 00:50 seconds showing on the game clock and the Privateers had possession of the ball. However, a missed jumper by junior forward Zishaan Raymond (Jenkintown, Pa./Jekintown) (Jenkintown, PA/Jenkintown) gave the ball back to Medgar with 00:24 seconds left in the game and the score tied at 55. Set up for the final shot, Cougar guard Jamaal Jessimy put up an off-centered jump shot from the right elbow that actually coasted over the rim and into the hands of senior guard Gary Browne (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee) (Blauvelt, NY/Tappan Zee). Now with only seconds left on the clock, Browne pushed the ball up court to a wide open Marc Lashley (Queens, N.Y./Holy Cross) (Queens, NY/Holy Cross) who went flying in for lay-up that just bounced off the glass and then off the front of the rim. The Medgar crowd erupted expecting over-time, but it was not over yet as the referee signaled that Lashley was fouled on the attempt and that he would go to the line for two free throws with no time left on the game clock. The pressure was on, but Lashley was already 4-for-4 from the line, and sealed the Cougar’s fate with a simple free throw giving the Privateers a huge road win breaking an eleven game skid.

 

Maritime actually trailed the Cougars for a majority of the first half, but were able to game a small lead that they held for most of the second half. The Privateers used a run and gun attack as the Cougars just couldn’t stop them from getting to the basket for the easy lay-in. Freshman guard Nikero Barbes (Freeport, Bahamas/Freeport Angelican) (Freeport, Bahamas/Ingelican) had an awesome game scoring his first double-double of his career with 15 points and 10 rebounds. While junior center Robert Benton (Montgomery, Ala./G.W. Carver) (Montgomery, AL/GW Carver) was the high man for the Privateers with 16 points and six boards. Lashley finished the game with nine points and Raymond added 10 rebounds and his only three points came off of a huge shot from downtown towards the end of the game.

 

The Privateers shot 72.2 percent from the free throw line, gaining 13 points from the line and was a key factor in their victory. The win now gives Maritime a 3-20 record on the year, they return to action on Thursday when they travel to Purchase, NY to take on Manhattanville in a 7pm game. They return home on Saturday to close out the regular season against the Golden Eagles of Saint Joseph’s-Patchogue in a men’s and women’s double-header. The men’s game will begin at 4pm and they will be honoring their senior’s in their last home game.

 

-MARITIME-