THROGGS NECK, N.Y. - Maritime College men's basketball opened their 2019-20 campaign with a win at home, Saturday afternoon, against Medgar Evers, as they used a second half surge to secure the 84-69 victory. The Privateers' depth lead the way with five different players scoring in double figures, and their bench contributing 38 points total to the cause.

After a slow beginning to the game, Maritime's offense began to click after a midrange jumpshot by Nicholas Ovanessian (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Prep), and a three pointer from Ryan Donovan (North Salem, N.Y./North Salem) to cut into the early Cougars lead, 10-8. With 8:42 to go in the first half, junior guard Jaylin Gray (Brooklyn, NY/Nazareth) found a cutting Sean Flynn (Flushing, NY/Holy Cross) who finished in the paint to bring the Privateers within 3, 20-17.

Senior guard Brendan McGovern (Seaford, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) nailed a triple with 7:01 to play, making it 26-24, Medgar Evers, and scored again in the paint at 5:21 to keep the Privateers within 3, 31-28. Maritime was able to score six points in the half's final three minutes to take a 36-35 lead into the locker room. Despite the sluggish start for the Privateers' offensively, they managed to hold the Cougars to 12-31 (38.7%) shooting, and force them into 13 turnovers.

On the home team's opening possession of the second half, junior forward Husene Camara (Bronx, N.Y./Frederick Douglas) skied for an offensive rebound and follow-up finish to give Maritime a 38-37 lead, which would start a 7-0 run, capped off by a layup from Brennan Whelen, plus the foul at 16:56 to push the lead to 6, 43-37.

With the score tied at 54 with 11:29 to play, Alec Downes (Seaford, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) would bury a short range jumper to push the Privateers ahead. The Maritime lead would continue to grow over the next five minutes of play, as they surged ahead for a 19-4 run, which Whelen contributed 11 points through his own made baskets or through assists. By the time Ryan Donovan (North Salem, N.Y./North Salem) was knocking down a pair of free throws with 6:45 remaining in the game, the Privateers held their largest lead of the game, 73-58.

Medgar Evers was unable to close the deficit to single-digits the rest of the way, as Whelen closed the game out at the charity stripe to give Maritime their 83rd and 84th points of the game with 1:17 left. 

For the game, Maritime finished with 19 assists on 29 made field goals, while only turning the ball over 11 times. The Privateers were lead in scoring by Whelen, who finished with 17 points to go along with 6 assists, while Ovanessian contributed 11 points and snagged eight boards.

The Privateers will look to ride their momentum on Tuesday November 12 when they visit York (NY) College in Queens, N.Y. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM.