THROGGS NECK, NY – There were eight lead changes in the Maritime College men's basketball team's Skyline Conference matchup with St. Joseph's LI on Saturday afternoon, and neither side had a double-digit lead all game.  In the end, the Golden Eagles (6-5, 2-0 Skyline) came away with a 76-68 victory over the Privateers (5-6, 1-1 Skyline) at Riesenberg Gymnasium.

In the first meeting between the teams since last season's Skyline quarterfinals, Maritime jumped out to a 19-10 cushion midway through the first half.  St. Joseph's LI responded with a 9-0 rally to even the score at 19-19 before buckets by Chris Zaveckas (Merrick, NY) and Jesse Tricario (New Hyde Park, NY) put the Privateers up four, 23-19.  The Golden Eagles rattled off the next eight points, however, to take a four-point edge of their own, 27-23.  St. Joseph's LI held a 32-30 advantage at halftime.

Maritime got back-to-back steals from Jake Devaney (Washingtonville, NY) on the first two possessions of the second half, converting both into easy baskets for a 34-32 lead.  The Golden Eagles used a 9-0 spurt to open up a 41-34 edge before the Privateers went on a 14-6 spurt, going back in front, 48-47, on a Zion Williams (Indianapolis, IN) jumper with 13:50 left.  Maritime eventually extended the margin to six points, 58-52, when Tyler Anderson (Smithtown, NY) sank a trey with 9:09 remaining.

St. Joseph's LI scored the next 13 points, though, to go ahead 65-58.  After an Evan Block (Seaford, NY) layup and an Anderson three-pointer brought the Privateers back within two, 65-63, the Golden Eagles rattled off the next seven points to take their largest lead of the contest, 72-63.  The Privateers cut it to four at 72-68 with 44 seconds left, but would get no closer, as St. Joseph's LI closed out a 76-68 win.

Anderson was the only Maritime player in double-figures with 22 points.  He added three assists, three steals and two blocks.  Devaney had nine points to go along with six rebounds, four assists and four steals.  Williams contributed eight points and four assists, while Block secured a team-best eight boards.  The Privateers shot 40.6 percent (28-of-69) from the field overall, but went just 10-for-35 (28.6 percent) from long range.  Maritime struggled at the free throw line, finishing 2-for-11 (18.2 percent).

AJ Esposito had 22 points and 21 rebounds for the Golden Eagles, who held a 44-40 edge on the glass.  TayShaun Hawkins tallied a game-high 25 points, and Kenny Rodriguez collected 11 points while also distributing six assists.  Anthony Todd also recorded 11 points, while Jaiden Gaston notched four assists.  As a team, St. Joseph's LI shot 40 percent (24-of-60) from the floor, 34.8 percent (8-of-23) from downtown, and 74.1 percent (20-of-27) at the charity stripe.

On Wednesday, the Privateers return to action with a 7 p.m. matchup at Merchant Marine (4-7, 1-1 Skyline).  It will be Maritime's only road contest in a four-game stretch.