THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Maritime men's basketball team lost a tightly contested match on Saturday afternoon to the St. Joseph's (Bklyn) Bears, 80-69, inside Riesenberg Hall Gymnasium.

The Privateers were led by sophomores John Liccese (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman), who totaled 16 points and six assists, and Patrick MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius), who recorded his sixth double-double on 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Three other Privateers reached double figures: sophomore Akil Spruill (Queens, N.Y./Holy Cross) (12 points), junior Isaiah Hayes (Jamaica, N.Y./Queens Teaching) (11 points) and junior Brendon Halligan (Durham, N.Y./Cairo-Durham) (10 points).

MacDonald did most of his work in the low post in the middle of the first half, as he recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds before the break. Freshman Michael Walker (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) played well off the bench adding six assists in the game, with four in the first half.

The Bears led 34-27 with just under four minutes to go in the half before the Privateers went on an 11-3 run to close out the period. Liccese scored the final 11 points of the half for Maritime including a four-point play with 13 seconds to go to swing the score from down by one to up by three at 38-35. The teams ended the opening stanza tied at 38.

Maritime led for much of the second half behind strong inside and out play from Hayes, who scored nine of his 11 points in the second half. The game was tied at 43 with 16 minutes left to play when the Privateers went on an 8-2 run. Hayes put down a transition dunk followed up by a three pointer of his own from the top of the key to push the lead to 51-45.

After very close play till the final buzzer, the Bears (8-7, 6-6 Skyline) edged out Maritime for the 80-69 win. Senior guard Matt O'Neill led St. Joseph's with 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Maritime (2-12, 2-7 Skyline) will play next on Wednesday, January 20, as they host conference foe Old Westbury in Riesenberg Hall Gymnasium.