BRONX, NEW YORK, January 23- The Maritime basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak in dominating fashion on Tuesday night at the Riesenberg Hall Gymnasium, claiming its second victory of the season, 79-57, over Skyline opponent Mount St. Vincent. The Privateers improve to 2-11 (1-7 Skyline) with the victory, while the Dolphins fall to 4-12 (2-7 Skyline).
“I am so proud of our team tonight,” said head coach Jake Scott. “Everything we have been working on to this point came together. They deserve to be excited after that win. We will continue to work and improve every day. It was a great team effort.”
Sophomore T-Vaughn Gibson (Freeport, Bahamas/Sunland Baptist) led all players with a career-high 28 points; 17 of them coming in the second half. Classmate Sean Corley (Harlem, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall) drained 19 points, while also grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists. Senior Ron Bethea (Harlem, N.Y./Humanities Prep.) was limited in the second half due to an apparent leg injury, but still scored 13 points and had a game-high seven rebounds in just 27 minutes.
The Privateers charged out to a 21-point lead, 28-7, at 7:48 of the first half, but Mount St. Vincent fought back with nine straight points in just three minutes, all but two were off of Maritime turnovers. The Red and Blue were able to correct their mistakes and held a 12-point, 35-23, lead at halftime.
The Dolphins picked up their game early in the second half and the lead was cut down to just eight points, 45-37, at 14:03. However, a long stretch from 10:22 to 4:24 of the second saw the Privateers expand their lead to a game-high 23 points after a 20-7 run made the score 71-48. It was capped off by Gibson nailing two free throws.
Mount had three players score in double-figures, led by junior James Zuccaro, who had 18 points. Sophomore D’Andre McPhatter added 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds and junior Gerard Fraser scored 11.
The Privateers shot a season-high 51.0-percent from the floor (26-for-51) compared to the Dolphins’ 32.8-percent (22-for-67).
Maritime is back in action on Thursday, when the squad will travel to Brooklyn to take on NYU-Poly. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Jays’ Jacobs Gymnasium.