Box Score THROGGS NECK, NY - The SUNY Maritime men's basketball team ended the 6 game winning streak of Brooklyn College, one of the best teams in the region, by defeating the Bridges at home 70-68. The Privateers moved up to 6-4 while Brooklyn dropped to 6-2.
Maritime's starting five accounted for all but 5 points. Freshman Gio Hurley (Brooklyn, NY/Middle College HS) led the Privateers with 16 points, 11 boards and 1 block, including the game winning lay-up with 2.5 seconds remaining on the clock. Senior Jamal Webb (Tuckahoe, N.Y./Tuckahoe) (Tuckahoe, NY/Tuckahoe) netted 15 points and had 8 assists, including the assist to Hurley for the game winner. Tim Dougherty (Fresh Meadows, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) (Fresh Meadows, NY/St. Francis Prep) had 12 points and 6 rebounds in 39 minutes. Kirk McRae (Brooklyn, N.Y./George Westinghouse) (Brooklyn, NY/George Westinghouse) and Rahshawn Pringle (Bronx, N.Y./Frederick Douglas) (Bronx, NY/Frederick Douglas) each scored 11, and recorded 7 and 4 rebounds, respectively. Jermelle Fraser (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman) (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman) (3 points) and Michael Stolberg (Bayside, N.Y./Holy Cross) (Bayside, NY/Holy Cross) (2 points) were the other two offensive contributors.
The Bridges controlled the game right from the tip-off, pushing the lead to as many as 10 on more than one occasion through out the first half. With Jamal Webb (Tuckahoe, N.Y./Tuckahoe) forced to the bench early with foul trouble, the Bridges took advantage and pushed the ball easily up and down the court. The Privateers fought back but couldn't overcome the deficit, and went in to the locker room down 34-28.
Maritime came out strong in the second half, although Brooklyn was ready for it. The two teams played pretty even over the next 10 minutes, and Maritime grabbed the lead 49-48 around the 10 minute mark; their first lead since the opening seconds of the game. Brooklyn answered right back, going on a 10-0 run, to push the lead to 9 with just over 4 minutes to play. The game's momentum changed when Pringle hit a three pointer (his only points of the second half) to cut the lead to 6. The Privateers rallied to a 61-61 tie with 3:14 left and then took the lead 65-63 with 44 seconds remaining.
A free throw by Corey McFarlane with 14 seconds left in the game, left the score tied at 68. Coach King used his final timeout to set up a play for the Privateers, who were looking to hold the ball for the final shot. The ball was inbounded to Jamal Webb (Tuckahoe, N.Y./Tuckahoe) who brought it up the court, looking for a screen and roll. When the screen was not there, he took the play into his own hands and went to the basket. He looked up when he was a the three point line to find a wide open Hurley under the basket for the game winning basket.
The Privateers will be traveling to Marymount for the Marymount Comcast Challenge on January 4th and 5th. Maritime will take on Marymount in the opening game at 7PM. The two other teams in the tournament are Messiah and Immaculata.
