NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Maritime basketball team returned from the Thanksgiving break with a non-conference win on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Mitchell Mariners by the score of 89-85 at the Yarnell Athletic Center.
 
Sophomore Michael Walker (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) led the Privateers with a career-high 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting including a team-high four three-point baskets. Senior John Liccese (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) added 15 points including a team-best nine in the first half.
 
Senior Patrick MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) contributed with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while classmate Isaiah Hayes (Jamaica, N.Y./Queens Teaching) added 15 points and had a team-high nine rebounds on the game. Freshman Brennan Whelan (Northport, N.Y./Northport) chipped in with nine points and also added a team-high three steals, and was tied with Hayes for the team lead in assists with five apiece.
 
Sophomore Brendan McGovern (Seaford, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) had 12 points in reserve as he played 21 minutes off the bench, while sophomore Jermaine Brathwaite (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth Regional)picked up one steal in seven minutes. Senior Josh Raime (Elmont, N.Y./Holy Cross) picked up one rebound in four minutes off the bench.
 
Maritime got the ball to open the game after the jump went out of bounds, Liccese missed the opening shot but Hayes picked up the offensive board and MacDonald finished to put the Privateers up 2-0. After four points by the Mariners, Liccese drained a three-pointer followed by a layup from Walker and another from MacDonald as the Privateers opened a five-point lead.
 
The lead changed hands on numerous times throughout the opening half with Maritime holding the largest lead of the half at seven points following a Walker layup with 5:04 left in the half. Mitchell closed the gap as Maritime went into the break holding onto a 37-35 advantage.
 
In the early-going of the second half Maritime regained a seven-point lead after MacDonald connected on a layup with 17:40 to go. Walker hit a three-point jumper with 16:23 left to push Maritime ahead 51-43, but the Mariners kept close with a pair of free throws.
 
Liccese sparked a 7-0 rally with a three-pointer followed by a Hayes layup and a Walker jumper as Maritime forged a 58-45 lead with 14:21 to go in regulation. The Privateers held a double-figure lead into the closing minutes but a dunk by the Mariners got Mitchell back within 10, to spark a Mariner rally to close the Privateer lead back down to two with 1:08 left.
 
Walker converted a key layup with 45 seconds left to give Maritime a four-point lead once again at 86-82. Mitchell got a layup to make it a one-possession game once again, but Walker responded with another jumper to propel Maritime ahead 88-84. Liccese sank the front end of a one-and-one to ice the game and seal the win for the Privateers.
 
Maritime (2-1, 0-1 Skyline) will get right back to work on Monday evening, when the team travels to nearby Lehman College for a non-conference battle with the Lightning for a 7 p.m. tip from the APEX.
 
Mitchell (1-3) will also be in New York City for its next game as the Mariners travel to John Jay for a 7:30 p.m. start from the Doghouse against John Jay.