THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – For the second time in three weeks the Maritime Basketball team was victorious against the St. Joseph's (LI) Golden Eagles as the team knocked off their Skyline Conference foes by the score of 79-70 inside the Riesenberg Hall Gymnasium.
 
The victory also secured Maritime's season sweep of St. Joseph's, the first time a Privateer team had swept a league opponent not named 'Sarah Lawrence' since the 2010-11 season, when Maritime swept the now extinct Blue Jays of NYU-Poly. It was also Maritime's first sweep of the Golden Eagles since the 2000-01 season, when the Privateers won by the scores of 73-60, and 73-68.
 
Maritime was led by sophomore Patrick MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius), who finished the game with a career-best 21 points to go along with a career-best 17 rebounds. His 17 boards was also tied for second on the modern-day single-game records list, just two behind the all-time mark of 19 set by Michael Stolberg '08 against Brooklyn College during the 2006-07 season.
 
Junior Isaiah Hayes (Jamaica, N.Y./Queens Teaching) tied his season-high with 19 points on the evening with 16 of those points coming in the second half. Classmate Tim Hoch (Coventry, R.I./Fishers Island (N.Y.)) added 13 points on the evening, which was his third game scoring in double-figures this season, all coming in 2016. Hayes and Hoch both missed out on double-doubles by two rebounds as the pair each finished with eight on the night.
 
Junior Brendon Halligan (Durham, N.Y./Cairo-Durham) continued his strong play of late with another 10-point effort in the win. Sophomore John Liccese (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) collected seven points, with all seven coming from the charity stripe. In reserve, sophomore Akil Spruill (Queens, N.Y./Holy Cross) picked up six points, while freshman Michael Walker (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) added three. Sophomore Christian Bilger (Wimberley, Texas/Wimberley) and freshman Pat Conway (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) also saw time during the game.
 
Maritime started the game in a quick 6-0 hole, but MacDonald put an end to the early drought with a jumper off a pass from Hoch. After St. Joseph's took a 9-2 lead, MacDonald picked up back-to-back layups to cut the deficit back down to three at 9-6. A layup by the Golden Eagles was answered with a Hoch three-pointer, and then two free throws from MacDonald to even the game at 11 with 13:37 left in the half.
 
The Golden Eagles surged ahead on the scoreboard with 12 unanswered points to take a 23-11 lead in just over three minutes of game time, but the Privateers refused to go down without a fight.
 
Spruill sparked the team with a three-point basket, and later added a free throw. MacDonald drained a mid-range jumper to pull Maritime within two possessions, but it was St. Joseph's to roll out six straight points to take a 29-17 advantage.
 
Halligan was up next to spur the team on with a three-pointer, followed by a pair from the free throw line by Liccese. The Golden Eagles scored the next four, but Halligan drained another three-ball off a quick pass from Spruill. Walker sank a three, followed by a Hayes layup as Maritime continued to fight back and trim the lead back down to three at 35-32 with 1:45 to go.
 
St. Joseph's then sank a layup, while Hayes made one free throw to send the teams into the locker room separated by just four points at 37-33.
 
After the break, the Golden Eagles struck first but Hayes knocked down a mid-range shot. St. Joseph's drilled a three and eventually regained a nine-point lead at 48-39.
 
Hoch took over the next stretch of plays as he dialed it up from long range for a three-pointer, which was answered by a Golden Eagle jumper. Hoch then sank two free throws, which the Golden Eagles also responded to. MacDonald and Hayes collected back-to-back layups followed by a free throw from Hayes to make it a two-point game at 52-50 in favor of St. Joseph's with 11:21 to go in the game.
 
After a defensive rebound by MacDonald, Walker found Hayes for a mid-range shot which tied the game at 52. After another defensive rebound by MacDonald on the next possession, Hayes stepped back for a three-pointer to put Maritime ahead.  St. Joseph's took back a one-point lead, but MacDonald collected two from the line to put the Privateers back on top at 59-58.
 
Hayes gave Maritime a three-point lead, and then Halligan threw down a three-ball to give the Privateers a two possession advantage. MacDonald made the next two free throws, followed by two from Liccese and one from Halligan with the Privateers taking a 10-point lead in the process at 69-59 with 1:14 left in the game.
 
The Golden Eagles were only able to close the gap to seven on several occasions as the Maritime defense stiffened when needed most. Liccese made two more free throws, as did Hayes to give Maritime a 12-point lead with four seconds left. St. Joseph's collected a three-point basket on its next possession but it was not enough as the Privateers ran away late with the 79-70 victory.
 
Maritime (3-13, 3-8 Skyline) will look to ride its momentum into Tuesday evening, when the team travels to Mount St. Vincent to square off with the Dolphins for a 7 p.m. start. Earlier this season, the Privateers narrowly missed knocking off Mount St. Vincent, falling by just five points.
 
St. Joseph's (LI) (6-11, 5-7 Skyline) will play host to Yeshiva on Tuesday evening, when the Maccabees travel to the Danzi Athletic Center for an 8 p.m. start against the Golden Eagles.