THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – It was an exciting night at Riesenberg Gymnasium, as the Maritime College Privateers defeated non-conference opponent Hunter College in overtime by a score of 91-84. Three Privateers netted 20 or more points, but it was senior Tim Hoch (Coventry, R.I./Fishers Island (N.Y.)) who led the way for Maritime, netting a career-high 31 points in the win. Junior John Liccese (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) also played well for the Privateers, scoring a season-high 26 points, and also adding a career-high 5 steals. Fellow junior Patrick MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) rounded out the top three scorers, totaling 21 points and 10 boards, good for his fourth straight double-double, and tenth of the season.

The Hawks opened up the scoring for the contest, taking a 5-0 lead off the bat, but it wasn't before long before Tim Hoch (Coventry, R.I./Fishers Island (N.Y.)) began scoring on his career day, netting five straight points, tying up the score at 7. Liccese then found the bottom of the net for his first three-pointer of the game, assisted by senior Bobby Parlow (Bay Head, N.J./Point Pleasant Beach). For the next three and a half minutes, the Hawks and Privateers kept the game close with six total tied scores, however, both teams fell into a dry spell, not scoring a single bucket for nearly three minutes. With 6:24 remaining in the first half, Liccese dribbled the basketball from one end of the court to the other, netting a fastbreak layup to open the scoring back up to instigate a 23-21 lead. Hunter then re-claimed the lead at the 3:12 mark with a three-point basket by Matt Franks, but the Hawks never let go of that first half lead, heading into the locker room with a slim 34-30 advantage.

Maritime came out ready to fight in the second half, scoring seven points in just over two minutes. MacDonald lit the fire under the Privateers with a two-handed slam from Liccese to take back a 39-38 lead. The Privateers then extended their lead to six points, the longest lead in over ten minutes with a long triple from downtown from Liccese off the feed from Malik Clark (Central Islip, N.Y./Central Islip). Hunter then made an effort to cut into the Privateer lead, but a 7-0 run proved to be too much for the Hawks as Maritime extend the lead to ten points, the largest lead of the game.

Hunter was down but not out, as the Hawks began to chip back at the Privateers, closing up the Maritime lead. A fastbreak layup by Blendi Ibraj cut the Maritime lead to only one point, the smallest Maritime lead in over twelve minutes. Soon after, senior Brendon Halligan (Durham, N.Y./Cairo-Durham) capitalized off of a missed Hunter free throw, draining a clutch triple increasing the Privateer lead to 69-65. At the 2:00 mark, Hoch and Franks traded back-to-back three pointers, but the Privateers and Hawks once again found themselves with a tied score at 72 apiece. Down by two points with 54 seconds remaining in regulation, Franks drained a pair of free throws and added a third with 20 seconds remaining, sending the teams into overtime, knotted at 76.

Maritime shot 56 percent in the second half, fueling the Privateers into overtime. Hoch took control right away, beginning a run with a big four point play to kick off the extra period. Hoch would then continue his impressive performance, scoring the Privateers first nine points of overtime, eventually taking a 85-78 lead just two and a half minutes into overtime. The pressure was too much for Hunter, as Maritime shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the field in the final stanza.

Defensively, Maritime capitalized off 23 Hawk turnovers, scoring 30 points off of those turnovers. The team also tallied a season high 12 total steals. Bobby Parlow (Bay Head, N.J./Point Pleasant Beach) also rejected five Hawk shots, a career best. 

Tonight's contest was Maritime's first home overtime matchup since February 13, 2010, when the Privateers were defeated by Purchase in double overtime. Maritime's last home overtime win came in 2001, when the team defeated Yeshiva, 67-59.

With the win, Maritime improves to 7-9 overall, while Hunter falls to 7-12. The Privateers will return to the court on Saturday, January 28^th when Saint Joseph's (Bklyn) will visit Riesenberg Gymnasium for a Skyline Conference matchup. Tip-off for that contest is scheduled for 1:00 P.M.