HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – The Maritime Basketball team opened up the 2015-16 season on Saturday evening with a loss to the Centenary (N.J.) Cyclones by the score of 80-60.
 
Maritime was led by junior Brendon Halligan (Durham, N.Y./Cairo-Durham), who recorded 19 points in a career-high 37 minutes on the court. Sophomore John Liccese (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman)added 15 points, while classmate Patrick MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Liccese got Maritime off to a quick start with a basket just 21 seconds in after the opening tip. After a three-pointer by the Cyclones, Halligan and MacDonald answered immediately to put the Privateers ahead by a 6-3 score.
 
As the period progressed, Halligan stepped back for his first of five three-pointers on the night to put the Privateers ahead by nine. A steal by sophomore Tim McQuail (Middle Village, N.Y./Cathedral Prep), and quick pass to Liccese set up another three-point basket to give Maritime the early 12-3 lead with 15:00 left in the opening half.
 
A Halligan three-pointer answered a layup by Centenary, followed by sophomore Akil Spruill (Queens, N.Y./Holy Cross)adding his first basket as a Privateer. Halligan continued his start with another three-pointer to put Maritime ahead by a 22-10 score.
 
The Privateers got to a 13-point lead on two occasions through the remainder of the half, but the lead melted away as Centenary took the lead back at 34-33 with 1:53 left in the half. Centenary took a three-point advantage, but MacDonald dropped a layup to send Maritime into the locker room down by one.
 
The lead was exchanged several times throughout the early stages of the second half, and junior Tim Hoch (Coventry, R.I./Fishers Island (N.Y.)) sank a layup to give Maritime a three-point edge at 44-41. Centenary answered with a free throw, which sparked a 25-4 run to give Centenary a 66-48 lead.
 
Freshman Michael Walker (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point), in his collegiate debut, finally put an end to the run with a layup. The Cyclones sank the next basket, followed by a Liccese layup. Liccese added the next four Privateer points, to give him a team-best 10 points in the second half.
 
Freshman Pat Conway (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River), and sophomore Josh Raime (Elmont, N.Y./Holy Cross) also got time in the closing minutes. Conway connected on one free throw, and Raime went 3-for-4 from the stripe to cap off the scoring at 60 for the Privateers.
 
While Maritime led in points off of turnovers, the Cyclones controlled the offensive glass with 12 points on second chances on possessions to Maritime's two.
 
Maritime (0-1) will look to earn its first win of the season this Friday when the team travels to Kings Point, N.Y. for their annual matchup with the Merchant Marine Mariners to kick off the 2015 Admiral's Classic.

Centenary (1-0) will travel to Moravian on Wednesday evening, for a non-conference matchup with the Greyhounds for its next contest.