KINGS POINT, NY – In a game that featured seven ties and 13 lead changes, the Maritime College men's basketball team (6-6, 2-1 Skyline) earned a 69-66 victory over Merchant Marine (4-8, 1-2 Skyline) at Liebertz Gymnasium on Wednesday.  Jake Devaney (Washingtonville, NY) paced the Privateers with 22 points in the win.

After the Mariners scored the first four points of the contest, Maritime went on a 6-0 run to go in front.  The teams swapped buckets before the Privateers used an 18-7 spurt to open up a 24-14 advantage with 5:59 left until halftime.  Merchant Marine ended the half on a 14-3 rally, however, to take a one-point edge, 28-27, into the break.

The Mariners extended their cushion to four points on Tim barton's trey that opened the second half, Maritime responded with an 8-0 run to regain the lead, 35-33.  Merchant Marine scored 12 of the next 17 points, though, to take a 45-40 advantage.  The Privateers rallied to tie it at 48-48, and the score would be level two more times before a Jesse Tricario (New Hyde Park, NY) layup put Maritime ahead for good.

A Tricario layup with 2:08 left capped an 11-2 spurt that increased the Privateers' advantage to eight, 63-55.  Tyler Anderson (Smithtown, NY) hit a free throw to make it 69-61 with 15 seconds remaining before Barton sank a layup for the Mariners.  Merchant Marine added an Aaron Zalescik three-pointer, but Maritime held on for the 69-66 victory.

Devaney had seven rebounds to go along with his 22 points.  Zion Williams (Indianapolis, IN) added 16 points, while Anderson finished with 10 points, eight assists and five steals.  Evan Block (Seaford, NY) contributed 10 points and nine boards, and Tricario secured eight boards for the Privateers, who held a 39-24 edge on the glass.  As a team, Maritime shot 43.9 percent (29-of-66) from the floor, 25 percent (6-of-24) from three-point range, and 29.4 percent (5-of-17) at the free throw line.

For the Mariners, Mason Lavergne led the way with 23 points.  He also distributed five assists.  Barton, meanwhile, tallied 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.  Zalescik recorded 11 points and four steals, while Jack Flannery notched 10 points to go along with seven boards.  Merchant Marine shot 46.4 percent (26-of-56) overall, including 32 percent (8-of-25) from downtown, and 60 percent (6-of-10) at the charity stripe.

On Saturday, the Privateers return to action with a 1 p.m. matchup against Old Westbury (3-10, 1-2 Skyline) at Riesenberg Gymnasium.  It will be the first of back-to-back home games for Maritime.