THROGGS NECK, NY – On Friday night, the Maritime College men's basketball team continued its season-opening span of three home games in five days by welcoming Cortland to Riesenberg Gymnasium.
Jake Devaney (Washingtonville, NY) and
Myles Herbert (Baldwin, NY) combined for 42 points, but it was not enough, as the Privateers (0-2) dropped a 78-63 decision to the Red Dragons (1-1).
Devaney finished with 23 points and eight rebounds to go along with three steals. Herbert, meanwhile, tallied 19 points and five boards while adding three assists.
Frank Sweeney (Rockville Centre, NY) also pulled down five rebounds, and
Matthew Scalisi (Staten Island, NY) handed out a team-best four assists in his collegiate debut. Maritime shot a combined 32.1 percent (17-of-53) from the field and 65.8 percent (25-of-38) at the free throw line.
With Cortland's football team set to play its annual rivalry game against Ithaca at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, a large contingent of Red Dragons fans was in attendance. That crowd saw the Privateers jump out to an early 6-3 lead. However, Cortland responded with a 13-3 run to go ahead 16-9. Devaney scored all nine points during a 9-3 Maritime rally that got the Privateers back within one, 19-18, at the 8:44 mark of the first half. The Red Dragons ended the half on a 23-4 spurt, though, to take a 42-22 advantage into the locker room.
Maritime began the second half with a 14-5 run that trimmed its deficit to 47-36 with 11:36 left. Cortland countered with 14 of the next 17 points, however, increasing its margin to a game-high 22 points, 61-39, with 6:16 remaining. It was still a 21-point game, 75-54, when the Privateers went on a 9-0 run to get back within 75-63. The Red Dragons' Gerrad Beaubrun drilled a late trey to finish off the scoring in Cortland' 78-63 victory.
Joe Evangelista led five Red Dragons in double figures with 13 points. Kendrick Wilson and Santana Sinvilcin each tallied 11 points, while Nolan Raymond and Xavier Leveille contributed 10 points apiece. Raymond also handed out eight assists. Joel Davis collected 16 rebounds for Cortland, which held a 48-37 edge on the glass. The Red Dragons shot 43.9 percent (25-of-57) from the floor, 34.2 percent (13-of-38) from long range, and 53.6 percent (15-of-28) at the charity stripe.
Up next, Maritime takes on the other half of the Cortaca Jug football rivalry—Ithaca (1-0)—at 1 p.m. on Sunday. It will be the first-ever meeting between the Privateers and Bombers, who are coached by former Maritime player Mike McSloy.
