THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Maritime Basketball team fell at home to the Mount St. Mary Knights on Sunday afternoon by a 79-78 score inside the Riesenberg Hall Gymnasium.
 
Maritime was led by junior Isaiah Hayes (Jamaica, N.Y./Queens Teaching), who recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while also leading the team with a pair of blocks. Sophomore John Liccese (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) had a season-high 23 points and led the team with seven assists.
 
Junior Brendon Halligan (Durham, N.Y./Cairo-Durham) was second on the team behind Liccese, as the junior had 16 points. Sophomore Patrick MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) registered 15 points on the game and added a pair of blocks, while missing out on a double-double by just one rebound.
 
Junior Tim Hoch (Coventry, R.I./Fishers Island (N.Y.)) also chipped in with four points, while adding five rebounds, with sophomore Christian Bilger (Wimberley, Texas/Wimberley) adding five points. Freshman Pat Conway (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) also had seven rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench.
 
Maritime started the game off with a bang as Halligan drained a three-point basket, and later made two free throws at the line to make it a 5-0 lead. Mount St. Mary tied the game at five, but it was once again Halligan to answer with a three-pointer to put the Privateers up, 8-5.
 
The Knights took a one-point lead, but Hayes knotted the game up with a free throw. Hayes then took advantage of a Knight turnover with a three-point basket at 14:23 to give Maritime a 12-9 advantage. Mount St. Mary went on a lengthy run to take a 12-point lead, but Liccese responded with a three-pointer to trim the deficit to nine at 26-17.
 
The Privateers were able to close the gap at two with Bilger knocking down a layup, Mount St. Mary answered but Hoch collected a layup to keep Maritime within two. After missing both from the line, Hayes followed up for the offensive board and connected on a layup to once again tie the game at 32.
 
Maritime did not take the lead until 14 seconds left in the half as Halligan connected on a layup to take a 40-38 lead into the break at halftime.
 
In the second half, Liccese pushed Maritime ahead by five with a three-point basket 18 seconds into the second half. Mount St. Mary eventually tied and regained the lead and took a six-point advantage with15:51 to go in the game. The Privateers chipped away with a pair of free throws from MacDonald, a pair from Liccese and one from Hayes.
 
After a made free throw by Mount St. Mary, Hayes threw down an emphatic dunk to even the game at 52 with 13:50 to go. The teams exchanged baskets, but the Knights then rolled out to an eight-point lead at 63-55. The Privateers continued to claw their way back into the game as MacDonald, Liccese, Hayes and Halligan helped cut the deficit back down to two.
 
After a Halligan layup to make the score 72-70, the junior sank the ensuing and-one free throw to make it a one-point contest. Eventually, Maritime tied the game at 78 after MacDonald pulled down back-to-back rebounds off a missed Mount St. Mary shot, and a Maritime three-point chance. MacDonald tied the game at 78 as he sank the back-end of a two-shot foul with 53 seconds to go.
 
Hayes had a chance to give Maritime the lead with 22 seconds, but the Knights pulled down the defensive board. Hayes was then called for a foul, which saw Mount St. Mary hit the front end to make it a one-point lead once again. Conway ripped down the defensive board after a missed second free throw, but there was not enough time in the end for the Privateers as the Knights escaped with a one-point win.
 
Maritime (0-7, 0-2 Skyline) will break for the holiday season and reconvene on January 2, the Privateers will travel to St. Joseph's (LI) for a 1 p.m. start from the Danzi Athletic Center in Patchogue, N.Y.
 
Mount St. Mary (4-5, 2-4 Skyline) will play once more before its fall semester comes to a close as the team will travel to Scranton, Pa. for a non-conference matchup with the Marywood Pacers on Wednesday at 7 p.m.