THROGS NECK, NY - With 5.2 seconds showing on the clock, Maritime junior Andre Cooper (Baltimore, Md.) hit the game-winning layup after beating two defenders with a spin move in the lane, sending Mount Saint Mary College to a 75-73 defeat in the Skyline Conference opener for both teams. The Blue Knights dropped to 1-3 overall while the Privateers bumped up to 2-1.

Trailing by six with 1:45 to play, Mount Saint Mary senior Alex Kuchar (Rutherford, N.J.) hit a layup to cut the deficit to 73-69. After a Maritime turnover, senior Matt Cunningham (Roswell, Ga.) hit a pair of attempts from the line to make it a two point game. The Blue Knights called a time-out to set up their defense and Maritime turned the ball over once again when Maritime junior Kevin Josey (Staten Island, N.Y.) committed an offensive foul. With thirty-six seconds to go, Kuchar hit a pair of free throws, completing a 6-0 run and tying the game at 73.

With the ball and the final shot, the Privateers were patient and ran their offense to perfection. A high screen allowed Cooper to spin free of his defender, and gave him a wide open lane to the hoop. The Privateer defense did not allow a last second attempt and the game ended 75-73.

Cooper shot 10-of-15 from the field on his way to a team-high 22 points. Josey was 8-for-12 from the floor and finished with 20 points. Senior Paul Frazier (Baltimore, Md.) recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

For the Mount, senior Chris Harrison (Baldwin, N.Y.) had a monster game, scoring a game-high 31 points on 14-of-19 shooting. Sophomore Matt Weinberger (Washingtonville, N.Y.) finished with 14 points and 8 assists and Cunningham joined the players in double-figures with eleven.

Maritime out-rebounded the Mount by a margin of 37-28 and both teams committed 17 turnovers. Both teams also shot well from the field, the Privateers coming in at 50.8-percent and the Blue Knights at 47.5-percent.

Mount Saint Mary hosts Vassar College in their next scheduled contest. The non-conference tilt will be played on Thursday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m.