OSWEGO, N.Y. – In the consolation game of the Max Ziel Tournament hosted by the Oswego Lakers, the Maritime basketball team dropped a close decision to the Elmira Soaring Eagles by a 70-68 score.
 
Junior forwards as Patrick MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) and Isaiah Hayes (Jamaica, N.Y./Queens Teaching) led the Privateers as the pair combined for 44 of Maritime's points on the afternoon. Senior Tim Hoch(Coventry, R.I./Fishers Island (N.Y.)) and freshman Brendan McGovern (Seaford, N.Y./St. John the Baptist)also chipped in with a season-high 10 points apiece.
 
Maritime controlled much of the early going during the first half as Hoch opened the scoring with a three-pointer, followed by a MacDonald layup to put Maritime ahead 5-3. Hayes added one from the stripe, while Hoch added a pair from the line to put the Privateers ahead by five.
 
The Privateers built up a 14-4 advantage after three-point plays by MacDonald and Hoch. Maritime kept the Soaring Eagles at the deficit and eventually built up an 11-point advantage at 19-8, and 22-11 with 10:31 left in the opening half.
 
The lead evaporated for the Privateers as Elmira raced back and regained a one-point edge at 30-29 with 4:40 left in the opening half. Elmira closed out the half on a 24-4 run and took an 11-point lead into the locker room at 44-33.
 
In the second half, Maritime began the task of erasing the Elmira lead and began that process with 12:55 to go in regulation as MacDonald knocked down a jumper followed by a layup from McGovern to make it 53-46. Hayes followed up with a layup and made it a five-point game.
 
After one free throw from the Soaring Eagles, Hayes laid the ball in followed by a layup from MacDonald to make it a two-point deficit. While taking a three-point attempt with 6:44 left in the game, McGovern was fouled and sank all three free throws to give Maritime its first lead since 5:12 left in the first half.
 
Elmira knocked down a long-range shot, but Maritime was able to tie as MacDonald layer it in to even the score at 57. The score was tied again at 60 and 64 before McGovern gave the Privateers a lead once again. Elmira answered with a three-ball and a layup to take a three-point lead, followed by a MacDonald layup to cut the lead back down to one with 20 seconds to go.
 
The Soaring Eagles knocked down one more free throw with two seconds left to narrowly hang on for the 70-68 win.
 
Maritime (1-2) will look to rebound off of this afternoon's loss on Tuesday, when the team travels to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to take on the Vassar Brewers at 6:00 p.m.
 
Elmira (1-2) also plays Vassar in its next game, which comes next Saturday, November 26 in Rochester, N.Y.