ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Maritime Men's Basketball team narrowly missed out on its third consecutive win on Saturday afternoon as the Privateers fell to the RIT in the second day of the Harold J. Brodie Tournament at RIT.
 
Three players reached double-figures for Maritime as sophomore Isaiah Hayes (Jamaica, N.Y./Queens Teaching) led the way with 11 points on the afternoon. Senior T'Vaughn Gibson (Freeport, Bahamas/Sunland Baptist Academy) poured in 10 points, as did rookie Patrick MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius).
 
Senior Sean Corley (Harlem, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) led the squad with nine rebounds and also had three assist on the afternoon to go along with three points. Hayes and freshman Kevin Blessington (Lynbrook, N.Y./East Rockaway) had two blocks apiece, while Gibson contributed with a pair of steals.
 
 Maritime started out with a quick 2-0 lead as MacDonald put up a layup with 70 seconds off the clock in the first period. Corley then followed with a layup, and then sank the ensuing and-one free throw to put Maritime up by a 5-0 score. RIT then sank a three-point jumper, but MacDonald answered with a layup to put Maritime ahead by six points with 4:30 gone by.
 
RIT took its first lead of the game at 12-11 as a layup moved the Tigers ahead with 12:52 left in the period. The lead swelled all the way up to eight points, but Maritime was able to play strong defense and end the period on a 3-0 run as sophomore Bobby Parlow (Bay Head, N.J./Point Pleasant Beach) put up a layup and Hayes connected on a free throw to send Maritime to the locker room trailing by a 25-20 score.
 
After halftime, the Tigers stormed out with a quick 7-0 run, that was ended by a MacDonald layup to pull Maritime back within 10. Hayes then hit a layup, and MacDonald went 1-of-2 at the line, followed by freshman John Liccese (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) sinking a jumper to pull Maritime to a 32-27 deficit.
 
Sophomore Darien Bryan (Jamaica, N.Y./Queens Teaching) picked up a layup to pull Maritime within two points at 36-34 with 11:28 left in regulation. After a pair of free throws from RIT, Gibson stepped back for a three-point basket to keep Maritime within one. RIT then rolled off a seven-point run and increased its lead to eight.
 
Blessington got a rally started for Maritime as he put up a layup to make the score 47-41 in favor of the Tigers. Hayes then came back down the floor off a steal and connected on a layup, then sophomore Brendon Halligan (Durham, N.Y./Cairo-Durham) sank a jumper, and Hayes hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 47 apiece.
 
RIT then rattled off a 9-1 run over the next possessions, but Maritime continued to fight as Blessington put up a jumper. Gibson hit a pair from the line to move Maritime within four with 50 seconds left in regulation. The Tigers were able to hold off the late surge by the Privateers, and escape with the 59-53 win.

 In terms of team statistics both the Privateers and the Tigers had relatively the same amount of rebounds as RIT led 44-43. Maritime committed just 16 turnovers, while RIT gave the ball away 19 times, with points off of turnovers equal at 15 apiece. From the free throw line, Maritime shot 58.8%, while RIT sank 60% of their chances from the stripe.
 
Maritime (2-3) will open up Skyline Conference play in its next contest as the team will head to Mount St. Mary on Tuesday, December 2 for a 7 p.m. start against the Knights. RIT (3-0) will take on D'Youville tomorrow afternoon to wrap-up the 2014 Harold J. Brodie Tournament at 2 p.m. on Sunday.