THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (December 2, 2013) – The Maritime men's basketball squad dropped their opening matchup in Skyline Conference play to the Mount St. Mary Knights on Monday evening by the score of 74-67 at Riesenberg Gym.

The Privateers were led by three players in double-figures as junior Sean Corley (Harlem, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) and freshman Brendon Halligan (Durham, N.Y./Cairo-Durham) lead the way with 18 points apiece. All of Halligan's points came by way of sharp-shooting from beyond the arc as he went 6-for-13 from downtown. Senior T'Vaughn Gibson (Freeport, Bahamas/Sunland Baptist Academy) also amassed 17 points as he hit five three-point baskets on the game.

Corley also led the team with 11 assists and in rebounds as he pulled down eight boards to fall just two shy of a triple-double. Freshman center Wesley Welle (Goshen, N.Y./Goshen) also collected three blocked shots on the evening as the team had a season-best nine blocked shots for the contest.

The Privateers got off to a hot start as Halligan put the team ahead by three with just under 2:30 gone by in the opening period. Freshman Bobby Parlow (Bay Head, N.J./Point Pleasant Beach), along with Halligan ignited a 16-0 run for Maritime as it took a 20-8 lead with 10:31 to go in the opening half.

After a pair of quick baskets by the Knights, Halligan put an end to the quick drive with yet another three-point basket at the 8:14 mark of the half. Over the next several possessions, Maritime struggled to maintain control of the ball as turnovers and fouls allowed Mount St. Mary to wedge right back into the game and take a six-point edge after its 17-0 run.

Maritime trailed down the stretch of the period, but Gibson drilled a three-pointer with 11 seconds left to send the Privateers into the halftime break with a one-point lead at 30-29.

In the second half of play, the lead see-sawed back-and-forth through the opening minutes but another 14-0 run by Mount St. Mary gave the Knights some breathing room and an 11-point lead with 14:37 left in regulation. Gibson came back with a basket to end the drought for Maritime, but the Knights answered right back with a layup.

Mount St. Mary hit its high water mark of the game by way of a 3-point basket at 8:15 to open up a 14-point edge on the Privateers. However, Maritime refused to quit and clawed back into the game started by three straight points from Corley.

Halligan then stepped back for yet another three-pointer off a Mount St. Mary miss, and the Privateers were within seven points with just over six minutes to go in the game. The Knights did just enough to keep Maritime at arm's length through the remainder of the period with an 11-point edge heading into the last minute of play.

Corley hit a three-point basket with 35 seconds left and then fouled to put the Knights at the line. Mount St. Mary missed both free throws to give the ball back to the Privateers. Gibson then stepped back for his fifth three-pointer of the night to pull Maritime within five and with 20 seconds to go. However there wasn't enough time for the Privateers as they ended falling by seven points.

Final stats saw Mount St. Mary outrebound the Privateers 43-36, including 27-24 on the defensive glass. Assists were fairly close with the Knights holding a 19-17 edge, and the Knights also led in the turnover battle with seven giveaways to Maritime's 13.

Maritime (1-4, 0-1 Skyline) will have a quick turnaround as the team travels to Farmingdale on Wednesday evening for a 7 p.m. tip against the Rams. Mount St. Mary (4-3, 1-0 Skyline) plays its third game of a six-game road trip on Wednesday evening as well with a visit to Sage in store at 7 p.m.